Venture Smith (1729–1805) was an African captured as a child and transported to the American colonies colonies to be sold as a slave. As an adult, he purchased his freedom and that of his family. His history was documented when he gave a narrative of his life to a schoolteacher, who wrote it down and published it under the title A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself.
Read more about Venture Smith: Early Life, A Slave in Colonial America, A Free Man, DNA Project
Famous quotes containing the words venture and/or smith:
“I throw myself on your discretion and shew my confidence in it when I thus venture to write in a private character what seems to contradict my public duty.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“Why does my Muse only speak when she is unhappy?
She does not, I only listen when I am unhappy
When I am happy I live and despise writing
For my Muse this cannot but be dispiriting.”
—Stevie Smith (1902–1971)