Black History Icons: br Frederick Douglass Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born around February 1818 and died on February 20, 1895. Here are five facts br in honor of the br famous abolitionist. 1. He was the most photographed American in the 19th century because he always took pictures to humanize the perception of African-Americans. 2. He recruited br black soldiers for br the Union Army. 3. Douglass was the first br African-American nominated br for vice president and to br receive a vote for president. 4. Douglass famously refused to celebrate Independence Day and said, “This Fourth br of July is yours, not mine.” 5. He taught other slaves to br read by using the Bible.