Benjamin Douglas House

Benjamin Douglas: A Key Figure in Middletown’s Abolitionist Movement

Benjamin Douglas (1816–1894) was a prominent abolitionist in Middletown, where he became a key figure in the fight against slavery. His home is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, providing refuge for those escaping bondage. In 1839, Douglas was one of the founding members of the Middletown Anti-Slavery Society, working alongside other abolitionists to push for the end of slavery in the United States.

A Political Leader and Inventor

Douglas was also deeply involved in politics, serving as the Mayor of Middletown from 1850 to 1856 and as Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1861 to 1862. In 1860, as a member of the Electoral College, he cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. Douglas acquired his home in the late 1850s, which was originally built between 1811 and 1813 by Thomas Mather, a wealthy Middletown businessman. In addition to his political and abolitionist work, Douglas made his fortune by inventing and producing a revolving standing pump.

This building is privately owned and not open to the public.