Solomon Northup was born on July 10, around 1807 or 1808, in Minerva, New York, to a freed slave and a free woman of color. As a free-born African American, he worked as a professional violinist, farmer, and landowner in Washington County, New York. In 1841, Northup was deceived into traveling to Washington, D.C., where he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Enduring twelve years of enslavement in Louisiana, Northup labored on various plantations, facing harsh conditions and brutality. During this time, he encountered individuals like Samuel Bass, a Canadian abolitionist who played a crucial role in facilitating his communication with friends and family in New York. This connection ultimately led to his legal release and return to freedom in 1853.

Following his liberation, Northup authored the memoir Twelve Years a Slave, published in 1853, which provided a detailed account of his experiences and the atrocities of slavery. The book contributed significantly to the abolitionist movement by shedding light on the realities of slavery in the United States. Despite the impact of his narrative, the later years of Northup's life remain largely undocumented, with records indicating he died around 1864.