Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross around 1822 in Maryland, escaped slavery in 1849 and became a legendary abolitionist who led approximately 70 enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad over 13 perilous missions. She later served the Union Army during the Civil War as a nurse, scout, spy, and leader of the 1863 Combahee River Raid, which liberated over 700 enslaved individuals—the first woman to lead an armed U.S. military operation. In her later years, she advocated for women's suffrage and cared for the needy in Auburn, New York, until her death from pneumonia on March 10, 1913, at age 91.

Early Life Challenges

Tubman's journey began in bondage on a Maryland plantation, where she endured brutal treatment, including a severe head injury from an overseer that caused lifelong narcolepsy and visions she attributed to divine guidance. This trauma forged her unyielding resolve , turning personal suffering into a force for collective liberation—she famously declared she'd never lose a passenger on her rescues.

By 1849, facing sale away from her family, she fled north, navigating 90 miles alone using the North Star, songs, and safe houses, arriving in Philadelphia as a free woman.

Underground Railroad Heroics

  • Returned 13 times despite a $40,000 bounty (millions today), earning the nickname "Moses" for biblical-scale rescues.
  • Guided family, friends, and strangers to Canada post-Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, rerouting paths for safety.
  • Collaborated with abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and John Brown, advising the latter before his Harper's Ferry raid.

Her methods blended stealth, spirituality, and strategy: disguises, coded spirituals like "Go Down Moses," and timing escapes with holidays when patrols slacked.

Civil War Valor

Tubman didn't rest during wartime. In South Carolina, she nursed Black soldiers, then scouted Confederate lines, mapping forts and gun placements.

June 2, 1863: Combahee Raid —Under Colonel James Montgomery, she directed three steamboats upriver, signaling with a handkerchief when slaves should board, freeing 750 amid chaos. Despite fame in Northern papers, the U.S. Army denied her a pension until 1899, paying just $20 monthly.

Later Years and Legacy

Post-war, Tubman bought land in Auburn, NY, opening a home for elderly African Americans funded by sales of her biography, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. She marched for suffrage with Susan B. Anthony and spoke at the 1896 convention, linking abolition to women's rights.

Pneumonia claimed her in 1913 after surgery; thousands mourned at her Auburn funeral, blending Methodist hymns with tributes from Black communities.

"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves." —Attributed to Tubman, symbolizing her frustration with mental bondage.

Enduring Impact

Tubman's story transcends history: sites like her Maryland byway draw visitors, while myths (e.g., unverified quotes) spark debates on symbol vs. reality. In 2026, discussions persist on her $20 bill portrayal (delayed) and cultural icons like films, but her real feats—rescuing amid narcolepsy, illiteracy, and ill health—stand unmatched. No recent "what happened" events; she's long celebrated as a freedom icon.

TL;DR : Harriet Tubman escaped slavery, led daring rescues, fought in the Civil War, championed suffrage, and died in 1913—her courage inspires ongoing fights for justice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.