BY Mark Mancini. While for Pate the battle was just business, for John Brown it was a personal matter. 15 Facts About John Brown, the Real-Life Abolitionist at the Center of The Good Lord Bird. His two sons had been captured and held hostages by proslavery forces. John Brown Facts 1. Quick Facts Name John Brown Birth Date May 9, 1800 Death Date December 2, 1859 Place of Birth Torrington, Connecticut Place of Death Charles Town, West Virginia Facts about John Brown!