1799 – 1858

Dred Scott

African-American plaintiff in freedom suit (c.1799–1858)

slaveactivist

Born

1799-01-01, Southampton County

Died

1858-09-17

Birthplace state

Virginia

Biography

Dred Scott was an enslaved man born in Southampton County, Virginia in 1799. Along with his wife Harriet Robinson Scott and their two daughters Eliza and Lizzie, he filed suit in 1857 seeking freedom for the family, arguing that his residence in Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory, where slavery was illegal, entitled them to liberty. The case, known as Dred Scott v. Sandford, was unsuccessful. Scott died in 1858.

Occupation

Dred Scott is recorded as a slave and a activist, born in Virginia (1799–1858).

Connections to Virginia

Dred Scott was born in Southampton County, Virginia in 1799. Explore other notable figures from Virginia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Virginia›Virginiahistory ›Historic sites in Virginia›

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The Land

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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More notable figures from Virginia

Other historical figures born in Virginia, ranked by historical prominence.

George Washington

founding Father and first U.S. president; soldier and slave owner (1732–1799)

Thomas Jefferson

president of the United States from 1801 to 1809 (1743–1826)

James Madison

President of the United States from 1809 to 1817 (1751–1836)

James Monroe

president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 (1758–1831)

Zachary Taylor

president of the United States from 1849 to 1850

John Tyler

president of the United States from 1841 to 1845

William Henry Harrison

president of the United States in 1841

Frequently asked about Dred Scott

Who was Dred Scott?

Dred Scott was African-American plaintiff in freedom suit (c.1799–1858), born in Virginia (1799 – 1858).

When and where was Dred Scott born?

Dred Scott was born on 1799-01-01 in Southampton County.

When did Dred Scott die?

Dred died on 1858-09-17.

What was Dred Scott known for?

Dred Scott is recorded as a slave and a activist.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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