Portrait of John Brown, abolitionist and one of the free-state leaders. Brown came to Kansas Territory in 1855 and left in 1859 but in that time, he was involved in several skirmishes with proslavery factions. Brown's acts of violence against proslavery people made him a legendary figure by the time he left Kansas Territory. He was hung on December 2, 1859 after a failed attempt to attack the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.