John Smilie

Historical marker location:

1801 E Street Southeast, Barney Circle, District of Columbia

( Marker can be reached from E Street Southeast, 0.1 miles east of Potomac Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling east.)

Congressional Cemetery

The District was a major center of the slave trade in the 19th century: Prior to the Civil War, Washington, D.C. was home to one of the largest slave markets in the country. Slaves were bought and sold in public auctions held in the city, and many prominent politicians and businessmen owned slaves.