Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (1837-1863), was the white commander of the all-black 54th Massachusetts Regiment, which entered the American Civil War in 1863.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts to a prominent abolitionist family, he was a religious liberal and a Unitarian, and he served as a captain in the 2nd Massachusetts until he was recruited by Governor John Andrew to raise and command the first regiment of black troops of the Union. Although, he was initially unenthusiastic about his assignment, the dedication of his men deeply impressed him and he grew to respect them as fine soldiers. Upon learning that black soldiers would receive less pay than white ones, he inspired his unit to boycott this inequality until it was rectified.

His new regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was sent to Charleston, South Carolina to take part in the operations against the Confederates stationed there. On July 18, 1863, along with two brigades of white troops, he led the 54th to carry out an assault on Confederate Fort Wagner. He led his unit into battle and was killed during the assault. When the Confederate soldiers buried the dead, they stripped his body and buried him with his men intending it as an insult. However, Shaw's father proclaimed that he was proud that his son was buried so and he was convinced that Robert wanted it to be like that.

In 1864, sculptor Edmonia Lewis created a work of Shaw.

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial was built in 1897, on Beacon and Park Streets in Boston in his memory. The story of Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts was recreated (and dramatized) in the 1989 movie, Glory with Shaw portrayed by Matthew Broderick.