George Washington Latimer (July 4, 1819 – May 29, 1897[1]) was an escaped slave whose case became a major political issue in Massachusetts.

His father, Samuel Mitchell Latimer (c.1797-1875), was of a white, slave owning household, of Elizabeth City, Virginia.

[2] In the early part of his life he was enslaved by a man named Edward Mallery and was a "domestic servant" until the age of sixteen.

[5] After Latimer's arrest word spread through the black community and a group led by Henry G. Tracy attempted to rescue him.

[4] Latimer's lawyer, Samuel Edmund Sewall, then sought a writ of personal replevin from Massachusetts Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw, who was known to have strong anti-slavery views.

According to the abolitionist paper The Liberator, Shaw said that it was a federal matter and the Constitution and the laws of Congress "were to be obeyed, however disagreeable to our natural sympathies or views of duty.

"[5] Latimer's arrest resulted in an uproar so great that "Boston was, without a doubt, the most potentially violent city in America.

[7] Latimer's counsel, Sewell, chaired a meeting at Faneuil Hall where attendees not only vowed resistance to slave-catching but also voted for disunion.

The former requested a law banning the involvement of state officials or public property in the detention or arrest of suspected fugitives.

[7] After his freedom was purchased, George Latimer remained involved in the abolitionist cause, attending anti-slavery conventions and helping to gather signatures for the two petitions that were started while he was imprisoned.