Charles Remond Douglass is the son of a very well-known American orator and journalist Frederick Douglass. Read further to know more about this famous historical figure and discover the legacy he has left behind.
Table of Contents
Personal Life
Charles Remond Douglass was born on October 21, 1844, in Lynn, Massachusetts, United States of America. His parents were Frederick Douglass and Anna Murray Douglass. Charles had two siblings and was the youngest among the three.
Throughout his life, Charles has had several occupational roles. He first began working as a child when he distributed his father’s newspaper, North Star. As an adult, Charles worked as a journalist, clerk, and treasurer of the District of Columbia School.
He is remembered by many today because he was the first African-American male to enlist in the military in the history of the American military. He also worked as a clerk in the Freedman’s Bureau and was again, the first ever African American man to do so.
Family
Charles Remond Douglass was married to Mary Elizabeth Murphy, fondly known as Libbie. The pair got hitched in 1866 and stayed married up until Mary died in 1879. Charles has six children from his marriage to Mary. However, only one of his six children, Joseph Henry, lived up to adulthood and went on to become a well-known Violinist.
A year after his first wife, Mary’s death, Charles remarried. He was married to Laura Haley Canandaigua in 1880. The couple have one son together, named Haley George Douglass who became a school teacher later in his life.
Death
Charles Remond Douglass succumbed to death due to Bright’s disease, which is a case of inflammation of the kidneys. He died on November 23, 1920, in Washington DC, he currently remains buried at Colombian Harmony Cemetry.
His father Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass is a revolutionary figure, he was an American abolitionist who fought for African American civil rights and women’s rights. He was born in February of 1817 or 1818 in Maryland, United States of America to a Black mother and White father.
Frederick had a challenging life growing up, he was born into slavery. Receiving an education was a far-sighted dream, hence, Fredrick taught himself how to read and write and educated other slaves as well. Fredrick escaped slavery by disguising himself as a sailor, his first Anna Murray had helped him do so.
Anna Murray was a key influence in his life, she helped him become an abolitionist and supported his cause throughout. Frederick played an active part in the women’s rights movement, he strongly advocated for women’s right to vote.
He continued his fight to speak and fight for the oppressed class till his death. IN 1895, Frederick died due to a heart attack at home.
Frederick has been crowned with the title ‘Father of the Civil Rights Movement’ as he took up the task of shaping a great nation like the United States of America and achieving equality for his people.
Conclusion
As the saying goes, only those who live historic lives make history, Charles Remond Douglass is one such individual. At a time when it was unacceptable for a Black amn to be in the military Charles stood as the first-ever Black man in the military among groups of White men, this act of his changed and inspire many forever.
