Solomon Northup (born July 10, c. 1807 or 1808) was an American abolitionist and the primary author of the memoir Twelve Years a Slave.A free-born African American from New York, he was the son of a freed slave and a free woman of color. Oct 17, 2013 Solomon Northup was born free in early-19th-century upstate New York. He lived the life of a respected and elegant musician until 1841, when he was lured South by the promise of a lucrative stint. Twelve Years a Slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by American Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. Northup, a black man who was born free in New York state, details his being tricked to go to Washington, D.C., where he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South.

Solomon Northup was an African American writer best known as the author of the 1853 best-selling memoir 12 Years A Slave about his personal experience as a slave. In 2013, his book was adapted into an award-winning film starring the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o. But one of the greatest mysteries surrounding the life of Solomon Northup is his death.
Sadly, some time after the year 1857, he just disappeared never to be seen again. However, the exact date, location and circumstances of his death are unknown.

Solomon Northup Memoir Series

There are many theories of what may have happened, but none of them have been confirmed. One of the theories is that he was kidnapped again and thrown back into slavery. Another theory suggests that he could have died in a place where no one knew him.
Other theories imply that he was captured and killed while serving as a spy for the Union Army. His skills would have come in handy in a situation where he was cooperating with Union troops in the South because he was familiar with people from Louisiana, and knew how to act like a slave. All of this would have been helpful to someone working as a scout or a spy.
The groundwork for such theories stem from Northup supposedly having had a desire to be involved in the civil war, and wanting to be a part of the cause.

Solomon Northup Memoir Definition

Solomon Northup Memoir

But the truth remains at large. “There’s no paper trail for him,” said Union College professor Clifford Brown.