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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

May 26, 1857

The Slave, Dred Scott, and His Family Are Freed

On this day in 1857, Dred Scott and his family were freed by the family of his former master.

Dred Scott was born a slave in around 1800 and had attempted to win his freedom through the courts by making the case that he had been in a free state and free territory and therefore was free and could not be re-enslaved.

Although Dred Scott lost his court battle, he was eventually returned to the family of his former master who had the legal right to free him.