James Forten
| James Forten | |
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James Forten
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| Born |
James Forten September 2, 1766 Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania |
| Died | March 4, 1842 (aged 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Martha Beatty Charlotte Vandine |
| Children | Robert Bridges Forten Margaretta Forten Harriet Forten Purvis Sarah Louisa Forten Charlotta Forten William Deas Forten Mary Theresa Forten Thomas Willing Francis Forten James Forten, Jr. |
| Relatives | Charlotte Forten Grimké (granddaughter) |
James Forten (September 2, 1766 – March 4, 1842) was an African-American abolitionist and wealthy businessman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born free in the city, he became a sailmaker after the American Revolutionary War. Following an apprenticeship, he became the foreman and bought the sail loft when his boss retired. Based on equipment he himself had developed, he established a highly profitable business. It was located on the busy waterfront of the Delaware River, in an area now called Penn's Landing.
Forten used his wealth and social standing to work for civil rights for African Americans in both the city and nationwide. Beginning in 1817, he opposed the colonization movements, particularly that of the American Colonization Society. He affirmed African Americans' claim to a stake in the United States, arguing instead for gaining civil rights in their country of birth. He persuaded William Lloyd Garrison to adopt an anti-colonization oo, and helped fund his newspaper The Liberator (1831–65), frequently publishing letters on public issues. He became vice-president of the biracial American Anti-Slavery Society, founded in 1833, and worked for national abolition of slavery, and for black education and temperance. His large family was also devoted to these causes, and two daughters married the Purvis brothers, who used their wealth as leaders for abolition.
James Forten was born free on September 2, 1766, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of two children of Thomas and Margaret Forten. Thomas Forten was the grandson of a slave who had "freed himself." However, Thomas Forten died young, and his son James started to work at the age of seven to help his mother and sister; at first he was a chimney sweep, later becoming a grocery-store clerk. He also attended the African School, run by Quaker abolitionist Anthony Benezet, who founded it to educate black children free of charge. His mother insisted that he continue in school, but by the age of nine, Forten had left school to work full-time. His early years of work became a measure for progress in his life and career.
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