Book excerpt: Captain Daniel Drayton is a relatively unknown figure of American history who lived the life of an Atlantic coastal trader and abolitionist. He is memorable for his bravery in attempting to transport seventy-seven fugitive slaves to the North onboard the ship, the Pearl. In the summer of 1857, Drayton came to the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts and took his own life for reasons that were never determined - this work investigates his possible motives for doing so. Captain Daniel Drayton's life was filled with ambition and afflicted by failure, yet history sometimes forgets that those who have failed are just as valuable as those who succeeded. Martyr to Freedom illuminates the sad but honorable life of the abolitionist, set in a historical context. Readers of all ages can gain a sense of understanding and respect for this tragic time in American history, and the people who helped bring us out of it.