Federick Douglas, the black abolitionist leader, was a man of great personal courage. In his youth Douglas was severely beaten by a notorious slave breaker. Finally driven beyond his endurance, Douglas rebelled and beat his tormentor who never dared lay a hand on the young slave again. At the age of twenty-one, Douglas decided to make a final break for his freedom, and armed with false papers, he got on a train bound for New York. When the train stopped, Douglas got off a free man.