John Brown Pronunciation: /dʒɒn braʊn/ (jon brown)
Definition: (1800–1859) A radical white American abolitionist known for his militant opposition to slavery. Brown believed in and advocated for armed insurrection as the only way to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States. He is most famous for leading the 1859 raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the aim of sparking a widescale slave uprising. Though the raid failed and Brown was captured and executed, his actions intensified the national debate over slavery and are regarded as a major catalyst leading up to the American Civil War.
Example: John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry made him a controversial symbol of both anti-slavery militancy and martyrdom in the fight for abolition.