Ages 9 to 13 years. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery, but successfully escaped to the north in 1832 after teaching himself to read and write. He became a masterful lecturer for the American Anti-Slavery Society and dedicated his life to equality. His writing helped him spread his ideas of justice, and he wrote three autobiographies, which were wildly successful around the world. Frederick advised the eight American presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin Harrison, and he promoted the rights of oppressed groups. Frederick envisioned a country with universal justice, and one that would ensure equality by law no matter one's race, gender, or ethnicity.