Robert Smalls

1839 – 1915

Robert Smalls was an African American statesman, soldier, and former enslaved person who gained fame for his daring escape from slavery during the Civil War by commandeering a Confederate ship to freedom. After the war, he played a pivotal role in Reconstruction, serving in the South Carolina legislature and the U.S. Congress, where he advocated for civil rights and educational opportunities for African Americans. A prominent advocate of faith and community empowerment, Smalls’s legacy continues to inspire movements for justice and equality.