Talk:John Brown (abolitionist)

Exponent versus proponent?

I found this line confusing until someone pointed out to me that there was a definition of exponent that I wasn't aware of.

"Brown was the leading exponent of violence in the American abolitionist movement

But I still feel like proponent would be better after reading about it here.

Anybody else think so? Is there some reason why exponent is really better that I'm not aware of? Mmarchin (talk) 20:06, 1 March 2024 (UTC)

Hanged not hung

"The military, prepared for an attack, lined the square where Brown was to be hung, with "the greatest array of disciplined forces ever seen in Virginia", according to Major Preston.[207]"

It should be hanged, not hung. 2A00:23C8:2D88:5101:6682:3607:2A8:8647 (talk) 21:57, 23 April 2024 (UTC)

I looked it up and Merriam Webster says:

The past tense of hang in almost all situations is hung. You hung a picture on the wall, or you hung out at the mall. Only use hanged when referring to someone being sentenced to death via hanging. Some people bristle when they hear hanged or hung used incorrectly.

I will change it.–CaroleHenson (talk) 23:22, 23 April 2024 (UTC)

 Done here.–CaroleHenson (talk) 23:26, 23 April 2024 (UTC)

The Math is Off?

How can he be the fourth child of his parents, when he is listed as being born in 1800 (after his older sister's birth in 1798), but the other siblings listed were born in 1802 and 1804? This does not make sense without reference to his other two older siblings, in this list of four people John was born second not fourth. 76.247.110.161 (talk) 19:41, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

You are correct; thanks for bringing it up. I changed the wording to make the citations more forgivable. The note and the sources make it seem there is no authoritative source for a list of the siblings. BusterD (talk) 21:03, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

Evangelist vs. Evangelical

In the initial sentence the article describes Capt. Brown as an "evangelist." I've not read -everything- about him but have never read a source citing him as an evangelist. I'm wondering if there isn't confusion with the term "evangelical," which would be an accurate description of his religious convictions according to Dr. DeCaro in "Fire From the Midst of You."

I have little experience submitting suggestions for changes on Wikipedia. Please excuse any errors on my part. JohnBrownMarchingOn (talk) 22:08, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

"John Brown (May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859) was an American evangelist..." should not be the first description of John Brown listed in the article

His being an evangelist never mentioned again in the article; it is clearly not the most relevant thing about him to list (MOS:LEADREL). I propose that the lead be reverted back to its state on 02:10, August 15, 2024 as it was before @9mm.trilla's edit on 04:33, August 17, 2024. OPERATOR571 (talk) 02:18, 29 October 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 11 November 2024

<In the Springfield, Massachusetts Section, it says Douglass instead of Frederick Douglass, and it does not have a hyperlink to the page.> Hawkinerd10 (talk) 18:39, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: Per MOS:SURNAME and WP:OVERLINKING - FlightTime (open channel) 18:42, 11 November 2024 (UTC)