Henry Brown was an African American man born in 1815 in Virginia. He is best known for his daring escape from slavery in 1849, which he accomplished by shipping himself in a wooden crate to freedom in Philadelphia. His journey took 27 hours, and upon arrival, he was freed from the crate by abolitionists. After gaining his freedom, Henry Brown became an active speaker and advocate for the abolition of slavery. He shared his story to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery and the importance of civil rights. Brown later moved to England, where he continued his work as a performer and lecturer.