Shaw came from a famous and moneyed Boston family. With a net worth of $1,000,000 in 1846 (), Shaw's father, Robert Gould Shaw (1776–1853), was one of the wealthiest men in Boston. His mother was Elizabeth Willard Parkman (March 31, 1785April 14, 1853), whose father
Samuel Parkman (August 22, 1751June 11, 1824) was the original source of capital upon which her husband built one of the wealthiest and largest business enterprises in Boston at that time. Shaw's older brother Francis George Shaw (October 23, 1809November 7, 1882) was an outspoken advocate of the
abolition of slavery. Shaw's nephew, son of Francis George, was
Robert Gould Shaw (October 10, 1837July 18, 1863). The latter was a
colonel in the
Volunteer Army of the United States during the
American Civil War, and commander of the all-
black 54th Regiment. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was
killed in action during the
Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863. ==Later life==