Austin Woolfolk


Austin Woolfolk was an American slave trader. He became notorious for selling Frederick Douglass's aunt, and for assaulting Benjamin Lundy after the latter had criticized him.

Early life

Austin Woolfolk was born in 1796 in the U.S. state of Georgia. He moved to Baltimore in 1819.

Career

Woolfolk became a slave trader in Baltimore, where he had an office on Pratt Street, with a pen where he kept his slaves. Even though he advertised in newspapers, he moved his slaves at night to avoid attracting attention. He became notorious for selling Frederick Douglass's aunt, and for assaulting Benjamin Lundy after the latter had criticized him.
Woolfolk was driven "out of business" by slave traders Isaac Franklin and John Armfield when they moved to Baltimore.

Death

Woolfolk died in 1847 in Auburn, Alabama.