George Russell Shaw

George R. Shaw (1848–1937) was an American architect in practice in Boston from 1874 to 1902. In retirement, he was noted as a botanist.

Life and career

George Russell Shaw was born October 28, 1848, in Parkman, Maine to Samuel Parkman Shaw, an attorney, and Hannah (Buck) Shaw. He was raised in Waterville and Portland before the family moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1863. He graduated from Harvard University as a member of the class of 1869, and in 1870, traveled to Europe, where for six months he studied art at the National Art Training School in London. In 1871, Shaw and his younger brother, Robert G. Shaw (1850–1931), were both admitted to the Polytechnische Schule München in Munich, but ill health obliged him to withdraw in March 1872. He regained his health after several months of travel, and in November, resumed the study of architecture in Paris. In spring of 1874, he passed the examinations of the École des Beaux-Arts, but returned to the United States in October, soon after his marriage.

In late 1874, upon his return to the United States, Shaw began to practice architecture. In December, he formed a partnership with his brother, who had studied in Munich until January 1874 and since then had been working as a drafter for Abel C. Martin. They practiced together under the name of G. R. & R. G. Shaw until 1882, when Robert G. Shaw retired to manage several Boston-area estates and trusts. Effective January 1, 1883, Shaw formed a new partnership with Henry S. Hunnewell (1851–1931), who had been in the office since he returned from his own European education in 1881. Hunnewell was the brother-in-law of Robert G. Shaw and the son of H. H. Hunnewell, the firm's most important client. The firm of Shaw & Hunnewell was active until the retirement of both architects in 1902.