Josiah Henson is a notable figure in American history. He was a black man born into slavery in Maryland. After an attempt to purchase his own freedom, Henson was cheated out of his money. Fearing he would be sold again, he successfully escaped to Canada around the age of 40. Henson would go onto set up settlements and schools for other fugitive slaves in Ontario and became an outspoken abolitionist. He was also an author and a minister. It is widely believed that Josiah Henson was the inspiration behind Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.†The good and honorable Josiah lived to be 93 years old.
