Discovering Daring Deeds: Top 11 Fun Facts About Robert Smalls You Can't Miss

1. Lemonade Out of Lemons: Robert Smalls' Ingenious Escape

When life gives you lemons, Robert Smalls makes an escape on enemy ships: This ingenious man not only freed himself from slavery by hijacking a Confederate ship during the Civil War, but also used his own courageous story to convince President Lincoln to allow African-American soldiers into the Union Army, later becoming a prominent politician and writer who helped establish the first free public school system in the United States.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Scallywag Hijinks: Smalls, the Disguised Captain

Ahoy, mateys! Gather ‘round to hear a tale of Civil War scallywags and hijinks that’ll shiver yer timbers: Robert Smalls, disguised as a Confederate captain, bravely commandeered a ship chock-full of precious loot, navigated past enemy lines, and delivered it directly to President Lincoln, ultimately leading to his political career as a U.S. Representative in 1875.
Source => pbs.org

Did you know the real-life "Moses" was a fearless woman named Harriet Tubman? She led 19 daring trips to free around 300 slaves through the Underground Railroad! Discover her astonishing story 🚂💪🔗

=> Fun Facts about Harriet-Tubman

3. Smooth Criminal: Boat Moonwalking Past Confederates

Talk about a smooth criminal: Robert Smalls moonwalked (well, in a boat) straight past Confederate defenses with the Confederate steamer Planter, putting his knowledge of Charleston Harbor's waterways to good use. This sneaky sailor not only successfully escaped from slavery, but he eventually leveled-up, becoming a Union army captain!
Source => smithsonianmag.com

4. Captain Cunning: Stellar Sailor and Political Powerhouse

Ahoy to Captain Cunning and the Congress Crusader: Robert Smalls, a daring pirate of righteousness during the Civil War, not only seized a heavily armed Confederate steamer and handed it over to the Union Navy like it was a prize from a cereal box, he also sailed into history as the first Black man to command a U.S. naval vessel. But wait, there's more! When not swashbuckling, this multitalented hero flexed his legislative prowess in the U.S. House of Representatives, championing equality and public education, stirring up successful boycotts for integration, and founding a railroad just for good measure.
Source => npr.org

5. Captain Freedom: High-Stakes Swashbuckling Escape

Ahoy, matey! Fancy a tale of audacious adventure and brazen bravery, featuring our favorite swashbuckling escape artist, Captain Freedom himself? Hold onto your doubloons: Robert Smalls not only freed himself from slavery but also liberated his family and 16 others by commandeering a Confederate ship and skillfully sailing towards freedom, earning him admiration and respect from Union officials as well as a captaincy within the Union army.
Source => pbs.org

6. Zero to Hero: From Fugitive to Union Captain

From zero to hero, just like that: Robert Smalls, a man who once escaped slavery on a daring voyage, became a Northern sensation, not only lobbied Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to enlist black soldiers but also recruited a whopping 5,000 soldiers himself, fought in 17 military actions, and leveled up to captain with a cool $150 a month in his pocket.
Source => pbs.org

7. Yo Ho Ho: From Sailor to U.S. Congressman

Yo ho ho and a bottle of emancipation: Robert Smalls, a sailor before the Civil War, hijacked a Confederate ship called the Planter, sailed his family and other enslaved folks to freedom, and then made waves as a U.S. Congressman, first black captain of a U.S. vessel, and the U.S. Collector of Customs for the Port of Beaufort with a splash of flair for over twenty years.
Source => cbp.gov

8. Flipping the Script: Smalls Becomes Master of His Old Home

In a bold move of "I got your house now," Robert Smalls flipped the script on his former master: After emancipating himself during the Civil War, Smalls went on to amass a fortune as a businessman and landowner, boasting a personal property of $6,000, real estate worth $1,000, and even became the proud owner of the very mansion where he had once been a slave.
Source => nps.gov

9. Box of Chocolates: Smalls' Groundbreaking Life

Move over, Forrest Gump: Robert Smalls' life was a monumental box of chocolates! This remarkable man went on to make history as one of the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Senate during the Reconstruction Era.
Source => battlefields.org

10. Hats Off! Smalls' Disguised Escape to Freedom

In a daring "Hats off!" escapade certain to leave ye olde Southern generals befuddled: Robert Smalls donned the captain's wide-brimmed disguise, navigated a Confederate ship through treacherous waters, and ferried 17 black passengers (including his family) from the chains of slavery to the warm embrace of freedom – earning him $1,500, and a standing ovation by Union officers who hailed him as "very intelligent" and "superior to any who have come into our lines."
Source => pbs.org

11. Democracy Munchies: Smalls' Pursuit of Equality and Education

You know how kids these days seem to be sipping on democracy and munching on equality like two scoops of mint chocolate freedom cookies? Well, allow me to introduce you to a man who hustled like a game show contestant to make sure those mind-blowing flavors were a part of our daily scoop: Robert Smalls was instrumental not only in his legendary escape from slavery but also as a key figure in establishing South Carolina's first free public school system, founding the state's Republican Party, pushing for African-American soldiers to be accepted into the Union Army during the Civil War, and relentlessly championing for voting rights and fair compensation for freed slaves. Indulge in that, fellow history buffs!
Source => en.wikipedia.org