A Connecticut-born farmer with Calvinist roots, Brown (1800–1859) was a lifelong opponent of slavery. In the 1850s, amid the heated debate over the admission of Kansas as a slave vs. a free state, the increasingly zealous Brown moved there and led a guerrilla band in the murder of five pro-slavery settlers that came to be known as the Pottawatomie Massacre. Later, Brown hatched a plan to capture the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry and distribute the weapons to slaves. The violent plot failed when he was captured by Robert E. Lee, tried, and hanged. Ink signature, “Your friend, John Brown,” on an off-white 3.5 x .75 slip affixed to the bottom border of an oval period image of Brown. Double matted and framed to an overall size of 10 x 12. In very good condition, with uniform toning to slip, not affecting legibility, and a bit of scattered light soiling. Photo has scattered light damp staining, toning, and a few small tears. RRAuction COA.
