Albert Duane Shaw
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Albert Duane Shaw, Congressman from New York
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th district | |
| In office November 6, 1900 – February 10, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Charles A. Chickering |
| Succeeded by | Charles L. Knapp |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Jefferson County's 2nd district | |
| In office January 1, 1867 – December 31, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Nelson D. Ferguson |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Cornwall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1841-12-21)December 21, 1841 Lyme, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 1901(1901-02-10) (aged 59) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Brookside Cemetery, Watertown, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States (Union) New York State |
| Branch/service | Union Army New York National Guard |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 (Army) 1867-1868 (National Guard) |
| Rank | Corporal (Army) Colonel (National Guard) |
| Unit | 35th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Army) |
| Commands | 36th New York Infantry Regiment (National Guard) |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
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Albert Duane Shaw (December 21, 1841 – February 10, 1901) was an American government official and politician from New York. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, he was most notable for his service as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic and a U.S. Representative from New York's 24th congressional district.
Shaw was born in Lyme, New York, on December 21, 1841, a son of Henry Shaw and Sally Ann (Gardner) Shaw.[1] Shaw was raised on his family's farm in Lyme, and attended the local schools.[1] He was a student at Union Academy in Belleville and St. Lawrence UniversityinCanton before leaving school to join the military.[1]
Shaw enlisted in the Union Army for the American Civil War, joining Company A, 35th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a private in June 1861.[1] He was later promoted to corporal, and he served until being mustered out with the rest of his regiment in June 1863.[1] Shaw took part in the regiment's activities in Virginia and Maryland, including; construction of Fort Tillinghast and Fort Craig (autumn 1861); guard and patrol duty in and around Falls Church, Virginia (winter 1861-1862); guard and patrol duty in and around Falmouth, Virginia (spring 1862); battles at Rappahannock Station, White Sulphur Springs, and Gainesville (summer 1862); Second Battle of Bull Run (August 1862); Chantilly (September 1862); South Mountain (September 1862); Antietam (September 1862); and Fredericksburg (December 1862).[1] In January, 1863, the regiment was assigned to the provost guard brigade in Falmouth, and also performed guard and patrol duty along the Aquia Creek railroad.[1] In May, the regiment left Maryland for New York so it could be mustered out.[1]
After his discharge, Shaw was appointed a special agent of the Army provost marshal's office in Watertown, and served until the close of the war.[1] The provost marshal's duties included keeping track of men eligible for military service, and compelling them to report if they refused to answer the call.[2] In addition, the provost marshal kept records on paid substitutes and men who had been paid bounties to enlist, and arrested them if they failed to leave for the front lines.[2] The provost marshal's staff also tracked down deserters from the front lines and returned them to their units or imprisoned them.[2]
After the war, Shaw was commissioned as a colonel and assigned as commander of the New York National Guard's 36th Infantry Regiment.[1] He served until resigning in 1868 to accept a US consul's appointment.[1]
Shaw returned to St. Lawrence University after the Civil War, but left before completing his degree.[3] In 1866, he was a successful Republican candidate for the New York State Assembly from the 2nd District of Jefferson County, and he served in the 90th New York State Legislature (1867).[1]
In 1868, Shaw was appointed as United States consul in Toronto, Canada.[1] He served until 1878, and Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, commended Shaw's written reports as the best in the consular service.[1] In 1878, Shaw was appointed as consul in Manchester, England, and he served until 1885, when the newly-elected administration of Grover Cleveland replaced him with a Democratic appointee.[1]
After leaving Manchester, Shaw resided in Watertown, and was a sought after speaker for holidays, the dedications of Civil War memorials, and Republican political campaigns.[1] He was also active in Watertown's civic life, including service as president of its Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and chamber of commerce.[1]
Shaw was long active in the Grand Army of the Republic, and was elected department commander for New York in 1897.[4] In 1899 he was elected commander-in-chief of the GAR's national organization, and he served until 1900.[5]
In 1900, Shaw was elected as a Republican to fill the vacancy in the 56th Congress that was caused by the death of Charles A. Chickering.[6] He was reelected to the 57th Congress, but died before the term began on March 4, 1901.[6][7] Shaw's brief Congressional service spanned from November 6, 1900 until his death.[7]
Shaw died in Washington, D.C., on February 10, 1901.[7] News accounts indicated that he returned to his room at the Riggs House hotel after attending a banquet in honor of Leo Rassieur, his successor as GAR commander-in-chief.[7] He was found dead the next morning, and the physician summoned to his room found the cause to be apoplexy (astroke).[7] He was interred at Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, New York.[8]
In 1872, Shaw married Mary Sherwood Keith of Chicago.[1] They were the parents of three children - Henry L. Keith Shaw, Mabel Keith Shaw, and Minnie Scott Shaw.[1]
| New York State Assembly | ||
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| Preceded by Nelson D. Ferguson |
New York State Assembly Jefferson County 2nd District 1867 |
Succeeded by Andrew Cornwall |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th congressional district November 6, 1900 – February 10, 1901 |
Succeeded by |
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This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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