James Forten

James Forten when 9 years old

1775

James Forten at the age of 9 had to quit school to work full time cleaning local shops to sustain his mother and sister.

James Forten goes to war

1780

James Forten goes to war at just the age of 14 about to be 15 years old. He joined the Royal Louis' crew as a 'boy'.

Returns to Philadelphia

1786

James returns to Philadelphia and continues working at Robert's bridges sail loft.

Left in charge (owner)

1798

James was left in charge after Robert's Bridges' retirement and later became the owner.

Made the business succesful

1810

James made the business one of the most successful sail lofts in Philadelphia.

Wrote series of anonymous pamphlets

1813

James, he wrote a series of an anonymous pamphlets, although his authorship was never truly a secret, called Letters from a Man of Color. The pamphlets denounced a bill the Pennsylvania legislature tried to pass requiring all African American emigrants to Pennsylvania to be registered with the state.

Convention of Color

1816

James made an organization with Bishop Richard Allen in 1817, which advocated for black migration to Canada rather than Liberia.

Death

Mar 4, 1842

James dies on March 4, 1842 at the age of 75. He lived in Philadelphia with his wife and eight children. Thousands of people, both black and white, attended his funeral.