Proposed monument for the “forgotten son of South Carolina”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Members of the General Assembly have proposed a monument be built at the South Carolina State House to honor the historical significance of Robert Smalls.

According to the bill, “a monument to honor Robert Smalls would represent the remarkable contributions, achievements, and accomplishments of this forgotten son of South Carolina and would serve as an overdue tribute to the many slaves who sacrificed alongside him.”

Robert Smalls was born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1839. He escaped, became a hero during the Civil War, served in the South Carolina General Assembly, and was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill states.

The bill was introduced in the House on February 6, 2024, and introduced in the Senate on March 26. Currently, it is awaiting Governor McMaster’s signature.

During the Civil War, at 23 years old, Smalls escaped by commandeering a Confederate ship he worked on and delivering its Black passengers from slavery to freedom, the bill continues.

Smalls went on to serve in the South Carolina House of Representatives, the South Carolina Senate and five terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Smalls died in Beaufort on February 22, 1915, in the same house that he was born and enslaved, and later purchased, the bill added.

If enacted by the General Assembly, a Robert Smalls Monument Commission will be appointed to determine the design of the monument and its location on the State House grounds.

“In our polarized world, there aren’t many measures that can win unanimous support from the General Assembly,” says Michael B. Moore great-great-grandson of Robert Smalls. “This bill’s success reflects Robert Smalls’ incredible legacy of service to the Lowcountry — and the special place he holds in the hearts of all South Carolinians.”

Governor Henry McMaster would still need to sign off on the act for the Robert Smalls Monument to be approved.

“I’m grateful for the legislature’s recognition of my great-great-grandfather and the values he stood for: individual freedom, equality, and liberty and justice for all,” Moore added.

Michael B. Moore is following in his great-great grandfather’s footsteps by running for U.S. Congress in South Carolina’s 1st District.

To learn more about the proposed monument, click here .

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