Who is Robert Smalls?

Robert Smalls (1839–1915) was an enslaved man who escaped to freedom during the American Civil War and became a prominent political leader in South Carolina.

Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, he is perhaps most famous for his daring escape in 1862, during which he commandeered a Confederate transport ship, the Planter, and surrendered it to the Union Navy [2]. This act provided Union forces with valuable intelligence that led to the capture of Coles Island [1].

Following the war, Smalls became a significant figure during the Reconstruction era. He helped found the South Carolina Republican Party and served as a Major General in the South Carolina Militia [3]. He remained an influential leader in his community until his death on February 23, 1915 [2, 3].