Fitzgerald, Robert George, 1940-1919

Robert George Fitzgerald was a soldier, farmer, educator and businessman. He was Civil War Veteran born in 1840 in Newcastle County, Del., the son of Thomas Fitzgerald (b. 1808), a free slave. In 1859, he enrolled in Ashmun Institute, which became Lincoln University. Fitzgerald served in the union navy aboard the North Carolina, William G. Anderson, and Ohio from July 1863 until January 1864, when he enlisted in 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry. He served with the army around Richmond, Va., until he was discharged in October 1864 because of illness. In, August 1866, Fitzgerald moved to Amelia County, Va., where he conducted a school for freemen until September 1867, when he returned to school at Lincoln University. In November of that year, he decided to return to South and, in January 1868, moved to Hillsborough, Orange County, NC., where he again conducted a school for freedmen. Later, he also operated a tannery, established a brick kiln in partnership with his brother, and began farming. In both Virginia and North Carolina, Fitzgerald was active in the Union League and the Republic party. In 1869, Robert G. Fitzgerald married Cornelia Smith (1844-1924) of Chapel Hill,N.C. He died near Durham, N.C., in 1919.