"Quite a humble but nevertheless a real hero"
A description of the most famous slave in American history

Volumes have been written about the Dred Scott case and subsequent 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision. But we don't know very much about the actual Dred Scott -- the slave who sued for his freedom in 1846 and waited 11 years for the legal decision he didn't want. In June 1857, however, a reporter from Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper met Dred Scott and described him in an article. Here is an excerpt of the man who, without question, was the most famous slave in American history.
Dred Scott
"Dred Scott, as might be supposed, is quite a humble but nevertheless a real hero, moving about the streets of St. Louis. He attracts a great deal of attention from strangers, and as many stop to converse with him, they rarely fail to contribute something to his wants. He employs himself in carrying to and fro the clothes his wife washes, and waiting, as opportunity offers, upon gentlemen at the hotels. His wife, very much younger than Dred, is neat, industrious, and devotedly attached to her husband and children, an acceptable member of the church, and would evidently be satisfied with obscurity and repose. The two daughters are perhaps eight and fourteen years of age, and while the decision of Dred's position was in doubt these girls were hidden away, and most unexpectedly made their appearance after the final proceedings.
Dred Scott is buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis
"As might be supposed, a large amount of money has been expended in litigation, and Dred very properly desires that the 'bills,' as far as in his power, shall be liquidated. We believe that some measure is on foot for this desirable purpose, and Mr. Crane, his lawyer, whose indefatigable industry to serve Dred has become a proverb, will receive and apply any moneys contributed for Dred's behalf.

". . . Dred did not appear to be at all discouraged by the issue of the celebrated case, although it doomed him to slavery. He talked about the affair with the ease of a veteran litigant, though not exactly in technical language, and he was evidently hugely tickled at the idea of finding himself a personage of such vast importance. He does not take on airs, however, but laughs heartily when talking of ''de fuss dey made in Washington 'bout [me].'
"As an appropriate finale of all the noise and confusion which Dred has made in the country, Taylor Blow, one of the most estimable citizens of St. Louis, and a son of Captain Blow, who originally brought Dred from Virginia, appeared before the Circuit Court, and formally entered the emancipation of Dred Scott, his wife, Harriet, and the children, Eliza and Lizzie. These persons thus liberated were conveyed to Mr. Blow by their owner . . . for the purpose of satisfying the laws in force in the state of Missouri, which require that emancipation of negroes shall alone be performed by citizens of the State. Dred speaks of Taylor F. Blow as one of "them boys he was raised with."

"For two or three years past Dred has been at large, no one exercising ownership over him, or putting any restraint upon his movements. If he had been disposed to make the attempt he could have gained his freedom at much less cost than even one-tenth of the famous suit. He would not do so, however, insisting on abiding by the principles involved in the decision of the case.

"Dred, although illiterate, is not ignorant. He has travelled considerably, and has improved his stock of strong common sense by much information picked up in his journeyings. . . He says, grinningly, that he could make thousands of dollars, if allowed, by travelling over the country and telling who he is; which is no doubt true, because his name will ever be suggestive of the Missouri Compromise and the Supreme Court of the United States, and for a century to come, will be interminably repeated in the political struggles which will agitate the country."

Click here to be taken "In Search of Dred Scott" -- a virtual tour that will take you to the courthouse in which he was tried and the cemetery in which he was buried.