SMALLS, ROBERT

born April 5, 1839, Beaufort, S.C., U.S.

died Feb. 22, 1915, Beaufort

U.S. naval hero.

Born to plantation slaves, he was taken to Charleston, S.C., where he worked as a hotel waiter. In the American Civil War he was impressed into the Confederate navy to serve on the armed frigate Planter . In 1862 he and 12 other slaves seized control of the ship in Charleston harbour and turned it over to the Union navy. He served as the ship's pilot and became its captain in 1863. After the war he served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1875–79, 1881–87).

Smalls

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.