Henry Brown was an enslaved African American man in the 19th century who escaped slavery by mailing himself in a box from Virginia to Pennsylvania. He worked with abolitionists who helped plan his escape, putting him in a small box and addressing it to a contact in Philadelphia. The box was transported by rail and ship. When it arrived, Brown emerged, having gained his freedom after enduring over 27 hours in the cramped box in his daring bid to reach the free state of Pennsylvania and escape slavery.