Nat Turner (1800-1831), American slave, leader of a black slave revolt. Born on a plantation in Southampton County, Virginia, Turner was a popular religious leader among his fellow slaves and became convinced that he had been chosen by God to lead his people to freedom. On August 22, 1831, he and seven other slaves killed their master and his family and, joined by about 60 blacks from neighboring plantations, started a general revolt. By August 24 the rebellion was brought under control by white militiamen and volunteers, but Turner himself was not captured for another six weeks. More than 50 whites were slain during the uprising, and an unknown number of blacks were lynched in reprisal by white mobs. After they were tried and convicted, Turner and 15 of his companions were hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia.

As a result of Nat Turner's revolt, southern legislatures imposed stricter control on slaves, and the movement to abolish slavery, which had previously enjoyed some support in the South, became a northern phenomenon.