Shaw, William Smith (12 August 1778–25 April 1826), bibliophile, lawyer, and presidential secretary, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the son of the Reverend John Shaw, a minister, and Elizabeth Smith. Accident-prone in youth, Shaw also suffered his entire life from chronic febrile and rheumatic complaints. He was, however, bookish at an early age, having acquired a classical taste from his father, who supplemented his income by preparing young men for college....
