Harriet Tubman – Biography, Legacy & Essential Facts
Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and humanitarian who escaped slavery and became the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad. Over approximately 13 secret missions, she rescued about 70 enslaved people. She later served as a spy and armed scout for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Born as Araminta Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland, around March 1822, Tubman overcame immense hardship from an early age. A severe head injury at age 12 caused lifelong seizures and vivid dreams. She changed her name after marrying a free Black man and earned the biblical nickname “Moses” for leading so many to freedom.
Her legacy extends well beyond the Underground Railroad. She was the first woman in U.S. history to lead an armed military expedition, and her portrait is planned to appear on the $20 bill.
Who Was Harriet Tubman?
Quick Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | c. March 1822 (Araminta Ross) |
| Died | March 10, 1913 (Auburn, NY) |
| Known For | Underground Railroad conductor, Civil War scout/spy, abolitionist |
| Legacy | First woman to lead an armed raid (Combahee Ferry); on $20 bill (planned) |
Key Insights About Her Life
- Escaped slavery herself and returned to the South around 13 times, rescuing approximately 70 enslaved people.
- Served as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War, and led the Combahee Ferry Raid in 1863, freeing over 700 enslaved people.
- Her exact birth year is uncertain (1820, 1821, or 1822) due to poor record-keeping for enslaved individuals.
- Tubman was active in the women’s suffrage movement later in life, working alongside Susan B. Anthony.
- She is the first African American woman to be featured on a U.S. paper currency (the $20 bill redesign announced in 2016, not yet in circulation).
Snapshot Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Araminta Ross (later Harriet Tubman) |
| Born | c. March 1822, Dorchester County, Maryland, USA |
| Died | March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York, USA |
| Cause of Death | Pneumonia |
| Spouse | John Tubman (1844–1851), Nelson Davis (1869–1888) |
| Children | None (raised adopted daughter Gertie Davis) |
| Occupation | Abolitionist, humanitarian, Union spy/scout/nurse, suffragist |
| Notable For | Conducting the Underground Railroad, Combahee Ferry Raid |
What Did Harriet Tubman Do?
The Underground Railroad
Between 1850 and 1860, Tubman made 13 secret return trips to Maryland to rescue her family and friends. While an 1868 biography exaggerated the number to 300, modern documentation confirms she rescued approximately 70 people. She famously stated, “I was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
Early biographies claimed Tubman rescued 300 enslaved people, but her own accounts and contemporary records support a figure closer to 70 across 13 trips. This discrepancy is often cited in modern scholarship as an example of historical exaggeration.
Civil War Service
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Tubman served the Union Army as a cook, nurse, laundress, spy, and armed scout. In 1863, she became the first woman in U.S. history to lead an armed military expedition, commanding Black troops in the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people. Two years after starting as a nurse, she was also tasked with gathering intelligence behind enemy lines.
How Did Harriet Tubman Die?
Cause of Death
Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia on March 10, 1913, in Auburn, New York. She had been suffering from bronchitis and the effects of old age in the months leading up to her death.
Death and Burial
She was buried in Auburn, New York, with military honors. President Barack Obama later named her an American hero.
The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, preserves her home and grave. The park is managed by the National Park Service and is open to the public.
Did Harriet Tubman Have Children?
Family and Marriage
Harriet Tubman did not have any biological children. She married John Tubman, a free Black man, around 1844. After her escape in 1849, John Tubman stayed in Maryland, and the marriage effectively ended. She later married Nelson Davis in 1869.
Adopted Daughter
Tubman and Davis adopted a daughter named Gertie Davis in the 1870s. Tubman also rescued her parents, brothers, and other family members from slavery, though no direct biological descendants are documented.
It is sometimes incorrectly claimed that Tubman had several children. All reliable sources confirm she had no biological offspring. She adopted one daughter, Gertie.
What Books and Movies Are About Harriet Tubman?
Movies
The 2019 film Harriet, starring Cynthia Erivo, portrays her life and was nominated for two Academy Awards. Tubman has also been a frequent subject of documentaries, such as the Biography video titled “Rescued Over 300 Slaves through Underground Railroad.”
Books
Her life is widely taught in children’s literature. For a scholarly account, Catherine Clinton’s Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom (2004) and Kate Clifford Larson’s Bound for the Promised Land (2004) are highly recommended.
What Is Harriet Tubman’s Legacy?
The $20 Bill Plan
On April 20, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a plan for Tubman to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. The final implementation date remains unconfirmed, but the announcement itself was a major historical milestone.
Suffrage and Philanthropy
After the Civil War, Tubman returned to Auburn, New York, where she cared for her parents, became active in the women’s suffrage movement, and established the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Colored People.
Honors
Tubman was named an American hero by President Barack Obama. She also maintains a close historical association with Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists.
As of the latest available information, the redesigned $20 bill featuring Tubman has not entered circulation. The Treasury Department cited production delays, but the plan remains officially in place.
Key Events in Harriet Tubman’s Life
- c. March 1822 – Born Araminta Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland.
- 1844 – Married John Tubman, a free Black man.
- 1849 – Escaped slavery to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- 1850–1860 – Made about 13 trips back to rescue enslaved family and others.
- 1863 – Led the Combahee Ferry Raid, freeing over 700 people.
- 1869 – Married Nelson Davis; adopted daughter Gertie.
- 1913 – Died of pneumonia in Auburn, New York.
Certainty and Uncertainty in Harriet Tubman’s Story
| Aspect | Established Information | Remains Unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Birth year | Most sources cite March 1822. | 1820 or 1821 are also possible; no birth certificate exists. |
| Number of trips on Underground Railroad | Approximately 13 trips, rescuing around 70 people. | Exact numbers vary in different accounts; some claim up to 300. |
| Real name | Certain: born Araminta Ross, later changed to Harriet Tubman. | No ambiguity. |
| Cause of death | Certain: pneumonia listed on death certificate. | None; details are well documented. |
Historical Context and Analysis
Harriet Tubman is one of the most iconic figures in American history, but her life has also been subject to myth-making. For example, some accounts claim she rescued 300 slaves, but modern scholarship estimates around 70. Her work in the Civil War is often overshadowed by her Underground Railroad missions, yet her military intelligence role was groundbreaking and directly contributed to Union victories.
Tubman’s later years were marked by poverty and activism; she fought for women’s suffrage and established a home for the elderly. The delay in putting her on the $20 bill reflects ongoing cultural debates about representation and historical recognition.
Important Quotes About Harriet Tubman
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
— Harriet Tubman (attributed)
“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
— Harriet Tubman, interview with Sarah Bradford, 1886
“She was a scout and a spy, and she led the most successful raid of the Civil War. She freed 700 people in one night.”
— Historian Catherine Clinton, Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom (2004)
A Lasting Legacy
Harriet Tubman’s journey from enslavement to freedom, her relentless work on the Underground Railroad, and her trailblazing military service have cemented her as a central figure in the fight for liberty and equality. Her planned appearance on the $20 bill and her continuing presence in books and films ensure that her story will be told for generations. For more on notable lives, read about Kal Penn – Biography, Movies, White House Role and Net Worth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harriet Tubman
What was Harriet Tubman like when she was young?
As a child, Tubman (then Araminta Ross) worked as a domestic servant and later in the fields. She suffered a severe head injury at about age 12 when an overseer threw a heavy weight at a runaway; it struck her instead, causing lifelong seizures and vivid dreams that she interpreted as visions from God.
How many children did Harriet Tubman have?
She had no biological children. She and her second husband, Nelson Davis, adopted a daughter named Gertie Davis in the 1870s.
Is there a movie about Harriet Tubman?
Yes, the 2019 film Harriet starring Cynthia Erivo portrays her life. It was nominated for two Academy Awards.
What is the best Harriet Tubman biography book?
Highly recommended are Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Catherine Clinton (2004) for a balanced scholarly account, and Bound for the Promised Land by Kate Clifford Larson (2004) for archival research. For younger readers, Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman is a classic.
What did Harriet Tubman do after the Civil War?
She returned to Auburn, NY, cared for her parents, became active in the women’s suffrage movement, and established the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Colored People.
Where was Harriet Tubman buried?
She was buried in Auburn, New York, with military honors.
Was Harriet Tubman ever married?
Yes, she married John Tubman around 1844, a free Black man. After her escape, the marriage ended. She later married Nelson Davis in 1869.
Why is Harriet Tubman called Moses?
By 1860, she earned the biblical nickname “Moses” for leading so many enslaved people to freedom, much like the biblical figure.
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