John Brown (1800 - 1859) was an American abolitionist best known for his violent actions against slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. Born in Torrington, Connecticut, Brown was deeply committed to the abolitionist cause, believing that armed insurrection was the only way to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States.

In the 1850s, Brown gained national attention for his role in the violent events of "Bleeding Kansas," where pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions clashed over whether Kansas would be admitted as a free or slave state. Brown and his sons took part in the Pottawatomie Massacre in 1856, killing five pro-slavery settlers in an effort to strike fear into the hearts of slaveholders.

However, his most famous and controversial act occurred in 1859 when he led an armed raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Brown intended to seize weapons and incite a slave uprising. The raid, however, was a failure, as Brown and his followers were quickly surrounded by local militia and U.S. Marines under the command of Robert E. Lee. Brown was captured, tried for treason, and sentenced to death. He was hanged on December 2, 1859.

Although his raid at Harpers Ferry failed, John Brown became a martyr for the abolitionist cause. His actions and execution further inflamed tensions between the North and South, contributing to the rising conflict that would eventually lead to the Civil War. Brown's legacy remains controversial, as some view him as a hero for freedom, while others see him as a fanatic whose violent methods were dangerous and divisive.