Henry Brown was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation in 1815. When old enough, he worked in a Richmond tobacco factory. He later married and lived with his wife and three kids. His family was eventually sold to a different slave owner in North Carolina. Henry was upset and wanted out. He devised a plan to have himself shipped to a free state. With the help of two friends, a shipping crate measuring 36”x30”x24” was built. Henry was able to squeeze into it along with a container of water and a few biscuits. The crate was nailed shut and bound with straps.