Some 161 years later, the New York Times corrected the spelling of Solomon Northup's name in an account of his experiences, which eventually were adapted for the Oscar-winning movie "12 Years a Slave."
An article on January 20, 1853 "misspelled his surname as Northrop," in the text of the article and as "Northrup" in the headline," the newspaper said in its corrections Tuesday.
"The errors came to light on Monday after a Twitter user pointed out the article in The Times archives," the newspaper explained, while noting that, "the errors notwithstanding," it had described its account as "a more complete and authentic record than has yet appeared."
Northup's memoirs were adapted into the film "12 Years a Slave," which tells the fate of the free man kidnapped and forced into slavery for 12 years, some time before the United States banned slavery during the Civil War.
Directed by Briton Steve McQueen, the film won the most prestigious award in film when it earned the coveted best picture Academy Award.