Life of Robert Gould Shaw

ROBERT GOULD SHAW (October 1837 - July1863

I . INTRODUCTION

Robert Gould Shaw is best remembered in American history as the courageous colonel who led the first Northern black regiment called 54th Massachusetts . The unit is known for their daring battle at Fort Wagner What makes Col . Robert Gould Shaw an extraordinary individual lies beyond his fearless deed . He was 25 years old when he was killed leading the regiment into the battle during the American Civil War . In what would be a few months with the regiment , Shaw showed remarkable patriotism and

heroism , the efforts , sacrifices and the significance of what was achieved in that fateful battle at Fort Wagner made him a martyr , who laid down his life for a race

II . EARLY CHILDHOOD

Robert Gould Shaw was born on October 10 , 1837 in Boston , Massachusetts He was the only son of Francis George and Sarah Blake Sturgis Shaw . As the grandchild of successful merchant (Robert G . Shaw ) who had successfully invested in the growing commerce of the country and amassed millions of dollars , Robert enjoyed a comfortable upbringing with his four sisters (Anna , Josephine , Susannah and Ellen . He was raised with impeccable family connections and strong abolitionist parents

At an early age of four , Robert 's father decided to retire as a layer and pursued his literary career and philanthropic interest and to spend more time with his family . Francis relocated the family to the country near Brook farm . Socially conscious and deeply devoted to intellectual and spiritual pursuits , the Shaw 's was soon associated with writer-reformer Ralph Waldo Emerson , Nathaniel Hawthorne , William Lloyd Garrison , Margaret Fuller , and Harriet Beecher Stowe . Living with such people for almost half his childhood life , Robert was introduced to this freethinker 's belief as well as the open-minded ideals of the local Unitarian church group . Robert developed an understanding of abolitionism , however at this young age Robert did not fully embrace his parent 's philosophies in life

While living in West Roxbury , Robert attended the primary school at Miss Mary Peabody . In 1846 , the family moved to Stalen Island so that Robert 's mother could be near her personal physician . Robert was sent to a small private school , and a year later to St . John College Catholic School at Fordham . Being close to his family , Robert disliked being sent to Fordham so in September of the 1845 he ran away from school and headed back home

II . EARLY ADOLECENCE

In January of 1851 , the family sailed for Europe and Robert spent the summer in Switzerland , In the fall , he was sent to the school of M Roulet in Neuchatel were in he spent two years . He then went on to study in Italy for a year . When he was sixteen , he left his family to study in Hanover Germany . In 1855 , Robert and his friends made a tour through Norway and Sweden before returning to America . Upon returning to America , Robert took the Harvard entrance exam and passed . However Robert did not excel...