Henry "Box" Brown was a 19th-century African American man who escaped from slavery by arranging to have himself mailed in a wooden crate from Virginia to Philadelphia in 1849. This bold and dangerous escape plan earned him the nickname "Box" Brown. Once in Philadelphia, he became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement and shared his story through lectures and performances. Brown also published a narrative of his life titled "Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown," which detailed his harrowing escape and experiences as a slave. His escape and advocacy efforts helped raise awareness about the horrors of slavery and contributed to the abolitionist cause.