Dred Scott was a slave and social activist, who unsuccessfully sued for his freedom in popularly known "Dred Scott case".
Background
Dred was born probably in 1795 of slave parents in Southampton County, Virginia, United States. Legend has it that his name was Sam, but when his elder brother died, he adopted his name instead. His early years were spent on the plantation of his master, Captan Peter Blow, who, in 1827, removed with his family and slaves to St. Louis, Missouri. Upon his death in 1831, Scott was assigned to Elizabeth Blow, a daughter. He was purchased two years later by John Emerson, a surgeon in the United States Army, with whom, as a servant, he spent three years in Illinois and two in Wisconsin Territory.
Career
Left by his master Emerson at St. Louis in 1838, Dred Scott became the body servant of Colonel Henry Bainbridge at Jefferson Barracks, and upon Emerson's death, passed to his widow, Irene (Sanford) Emerson. She hired Scott to various families in the city.
He often became a charge upon the bounty of Taylor and H. T. Blow, the wealthy sons of his former owner, who seemed to feel partially responsible for him. Mrs. Emerson could have emancipated him but did not do so, and left him in St. Louis when she removed to Massachusetts in the middle forties. It seems probable that Scott attempted unsuccessfully to arrange for the purchase of himself and his family.
In April 1846, Henry T. Blow instituted and financed suits in the state courts to secure the freedom of Scott and of his family. The contention was that a slave, after sojourning in free territory, was free upon his return to Missouri. The ignorant and illiterate Negro comprehended little of its significance, but signed his mark to the petition in the suit. While the case was before the state courts, 1846-52, he remained under the nominal control of the sheriff, being hired out for $5. 00 per month until the termination of the suit.
After an adverse decision had been delivered by Judge William Scott in 1852, it was arranged to take the case to the federal courts, and, for jurisdictional purposes, Dred Scott was transferred by a fictitious sale to his owner's brother, John F. A. Sanford of New York. During the interval when the case was in the federal courts, 1854-57, Scott remained in St. Louis, under practically no restraint, a mere pawn in the game, with no regular employment, running errands and performing janitor service. As a local celebrity, he enjoyed greatly his new and unexpected prominence.
The United States Supreme Court in 1857 held that Scott was not free by reason of his removal either to Illinois or to Wisconsin Territory. His status was determined by the courts of Missouri which had decided that he was not free. Not being a citizen of Missouri, within the meaning of the Constitution, he was not entitled, as such, to sue in the federal courts.
In May 1857 he was transferred, no doubt by another fictitious sale, to Taylor Blow, who very obviously intended to emancipate him and his family. This action was taken on May 26, 1857. The fact that Mrs. Emerson had meanwhile become the wife of Calvin Clifford Chaffee of Massachusetts, a radical antislavery congressman, was the source of much ironical comment and hastened the manumission.
Scott spent the remainder of his life as the good-natured and lazy porter at Barnum's Hotel, St. Louis, where he was an object of interest and curiosity to the guests. He died of tuberculosis, and Henry T. Blow paid his funeral expenses.
Achievements
Dred Scott served several masters before suing for his freedom. He made history by launching a legal battle to gain his freedom but failed. The Dred Scott decision sparked outrage in the northern states and glee in the South - the growing schism made Civil War inevitable.
In 1997, Dred Scott and his wife Harriet were admitted to the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Personality
Scott was shiftless and unreliable, and therefore frequently unemployed and without means to support his family. He was physically unfitted for steady and hard labor.
Connections
In 1836, Scott fell in love with a slave of another army doctor, 19-year-old Harriett Robinson, and her ownership was transferred over to Dr. Emerson when they were wed.
