SHAW, Samuel, merchant, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 2 October, 1754; died at sea, 30 May, 1794. His father, Francis, a merchant of Boston, was associated with Robert Gould in 1770 in founding the town of Gouldsborough, Maine Operations were begun on a large scale, but the Revolution put a stop to them, and Shaw lost much money in the enterprise. Samuel early entered the counting-house of his father. He was an ardent patriot, and before the Revolution had a quarrel with Lieutenant Wragg, of the British army, who was billeted at his father's house. A duel was prevented only by the interposition of Major John Pitcairn. Young Shaw was commissioned a lieutenant of artillery, 1 January, 1776, served from Dorchester Heights to Yorktown, and at the close of the war had attained the rank of major, and aide-de-camp to General Henry Knox. He went to Canton in February, 1784, as supercargo, and on his return, a year from the following May, General Knox made him first secretary of the war department. He made several more voyages between New York and Canton, and in February, 1786, was appointed United States consul at the latter place. He died on his way from that city to Boston. His friend, Josiah Quincy, published " The Journal of Major Samuel Shaw, the First American Consul at Canton, with a Life of the Author" (Boston, 1847).-His nephew, Robert Gould, merchant, born in Gouldsborough, Maine, 4 June, 1776; died in Boston, Massachusetts, 3 May, 1853, was the son of Francis Shaw, who, with his father, Francis, was interested in founding the town of Gouldsborough, Maine, and lost much money when the enterprise failed. Robert went to Boston about 1789, and was apprenticed to his uncle William. When he came of age he entered into business for himself, which he continued till 1810 in various partnerships. From the latter year till his death he conducted his affairs alone. He resided for several years in London, and in 1807 invested largely in lands in Maine. He accumulated a fortune, and bequeathed $110, -000 to be put at interest until it should amount to 8400,000. This is to be designated the "Shaw fund," and is to be devoted to the support of an asylum for mariners' children. He also left $10, -000 to purchase a site for the institution.--Robert Gould's eldest son, Francis George, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 23 October, 1809; died in West New Brighton, Staten island, New York, 7 November, 1882, entered Harvard in 1825, but left in 1828 to enter his father's counting-room, and engaged actively in business. In 1841, his health being impaired, he withdrew to West Roxbury, near Brook Farm, where an experiment in associative life, in which he was interested, was begun under the leadership of George Ripley. In 1847 he left West Roxbury, and, after living more than three years upon the north shore of Staten island, he went to Europe with his family. After four years he returned in 1855 to Staten island, where he resided until his death. While living at West Roxbury he was a member of the school committee and one of the overseers of the poor, a justice of the peace, and president of the first common council of Roxbury when that town became a city. He was also foreman of the jury of Norfolk county that first proposed the establishment of the State reform-school of Massachusetts. During his residence on Staten island he was a trustee of the village in which he lived, a trustee of the Seaman's retreat and of the S. R. Smith infirmary, treasurer of the American union of associationists and of the Sailor's fund, president of the Freedman's relief association and of the New York branch of the Freedman's union commission, and connected with various local organizations. He was also a hereditary member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. Possessed of an ample fortune, he held it as a trust for the unfortunate. All good causes, the help of the poor, the ignorant, the criminal, and the enslaved, had always his ready sympathy and his hearty support. He was the author of several translations from George Sand, Fourier, and Zschokke.--Francis George's son, Robert Gould, soldier, born in Boston, 10 October, 1837; died at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, 18 July, 1863, entered Harvard in 1856, but left in March, 1859. He enlisted as a private in the 7th New York regiment on 19 April, 1861, became 2d lieutenant in the 2d Massachusetts on 28 May, and 1st lieutenant on 8 July. He was promoted to captain, 10 August, 1862, and on 17 April, 1863, became colonel of the 54th Massachusetts, the first regiment of colored troops from a free state that was mustered into the United States service. He was killed in the assault on Fort Wagner while leading the advance with his regiment. A bust of him has been made by Edmonia Lewis, the colored sculptor, a portrait by William Page is in Memorial hall at Harvard, and it is proposed to place a memorial of him, consisting of an equestrian figure in high relief, on the front wall of the state-house yard in Boston.