Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Dred Scott, 1799 - 1858
Freedom Denied by the United States Supreme Court
Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, July 26, 2014
1. Dred Scott, 1700 - 1858 Marker
Dred Scott was born a slave in Southampton, Virginia. His family was owned by Peter Blow who sold Scott to an army doctor named John Emerson. Dr. Emerson took Scott to live in the free states of Illinois and Wisconsin where, in 1836, Scott married Harriet Robinson. The couple had two daughters and two sons, both of whom died in infancy.
In 1843, Scott, who now lived in the slave state of Missouri, attempted to buy his freedom from the widow of Dr. Emerson for $300. His bid for freedom was refused so, in 1847, Scott sued for it in the Missouri courts. After a long series of trials, lasting from 1847 until 1856, in both the Missouri and federal courts, the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court.
By a vote of 7-2, in a decision written by Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, the court held that Scott, as a black man, was not a citizen and, therefore, did not have any rights of citizenship because the framers had not included any person of African descent as part of the original community of people covered by the Constitution. The decision also held that the Missouri Compromise, which limited slavery in the western territories,
this page online
Scott's fight for freedom was supported by the sons of Peter Blow. After the Supreme Court decision, ownership of the Scotts was transferred to Taylor Blow, who emancipated them on May 26, 1857. Dred Scott died on September 17, 1858, nine months after gaining his freedom. Harriet Scott died in 1876.
Painting
Dred Scott
Louis Schultze (1820-1900)
Oil on canvas, 1882
Missouri History Museum, St. Louis
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1812.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 58.717′ N, 76° 29.443′ W. Marker was in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It was on State Circle. Marker is on the East side of the State House. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Annapolis MD 21401, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Central Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in the Chesapeake
Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, July 26, 2014
2. Maryland State House
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Black Patriots: The Pursuit of Transcendant Liberty (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Black Patriots: The Pursuit of Transcendant Liberty (a few steps from this marker); General Washington (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (a few steps from this marker); Matthew Alexander Henson (a few steps from this marker); USS Maryland (within shouting distance of this marker); Baron Johann de Kalb (within shouting distance of this marker); Baron Johann de Kalb, 1721 - 1780 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.
Other markers no longer nearby. Roger Brooke Taney (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Roger Brooke Taney, 1777 - 1864
courtesy Wikimedia Commons
3. Dred Scott
By Louis Schultze
1888
By Louis Schultze
1888
Oil on canvas by Louis Schultze, 1888. Acc. # 1897.9.1. Missouri Historical Society Museum Collections. Photograph by David Schultz, 1999. NS 23864. Photograph and scan (c) 1999-2006, Missouri Historical Society.
Also see . . . Dred Scott's fight for freedom - PBS. (Submitted on July 26, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,014 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on September 13, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 26, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on September 12, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
