OTD: Robert Smalls Passed Away
ON THIS DAY – February 23
It was on this day, 111 years ago, that Robert Smalls passed away.
By no uncertain terms do we say: the story of Robert Smalls is perhaps one of the most remarkable in United States history.
In short, Robert Smalls was born into slavery, successfully commandeered a Confederate ship and sailed it straight into Union waters to gain the freedom for himself and families aboard the ship. Smalls would go on to become a Congressman in South Carolina and purchase the house in which he was once a slave.
Every once in a blue moon, you might see the story of his seizing of the Confederate ship shared online as a sort of “TIL” to much fanfare, but the story deserves so much more attention than a footnote of interesting history.
We have previously written about Smalls ourselves, being the subject of The Big Legacy of Robert Smalls, from the Through the Spyglass series, but on this day, we felt it right to once again put his story to the forefront.
Robert Smalls, you were self-determination and fearlessness personified. Our words could never do it justice. We honor you not only for what you did for your fellow man, not only for your bravery, but to honor you for the hero that you are.
R.I.P. Captain Smalls. 111 years later we still honor your name, your story and, simply put, you.