Lewis George Clark

1815-1897

Name: Lewis George Clark

Birthplace: Madison County Kentucky

Status: Born a Slave

Occupation/Training: Lecturer, author

Residence: Kentucky, Port Stanley Ontario, Oberlin Ohio

Abolitionist Involvement: Although promised freedom by slave owner, Campbell's daughter claimed that Lewis was her dowry right, and took Lewis from his family at the age of 6 when she married. Upon the death of the family the children were sold to the highest bidder. When the opportunity came in 1841 he escaped to Canada. He attempted an escape pretending to be a slave owner with a slave, as he was fair-skinned. However, after a few miles, he returned since he could not read sign posts, and later decided to travel alone. He later met Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote about this incident in Uncle Tom's Cabin in the character George Harris. In Canada he became active in the Anti-Slavery movement. Many of his stories and experiences as a slave were captured into Haired Beecher Stowe's work creating nationwide indignation of the inhumanity of American slavery. Much of the known horrors or slavery are attributed to Clarke's willingness to share incidents of his life. he died in 1897 in Ohio.

Family: His mother Letitia was fathered by slave owner Samuel Campbell, and one of his slaves. Father was Scottish born Daniel Clark.

Place of Death: Oberlin Ohio

Publications: Narrative of the Sufferings of Lewis and Milton Clarke, 1846; Harriet Beecher Stowe--The Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin (1856) A Chat with George Harris The Jefferson Gazette (1896)

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