Shaw was born in Lyme, New York on December 21, 1841, a son of Henry Shaw and Sally Ann Shaw. Shaw was raised on his family's farm in Lyme, and attended the local schools. He was a student at Union Academy in Belleville and St. Lawrence University in Canton before leaving school to join the military.
Military service
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. He was later promoted to corporal, and he served until being mustered out with the rest of his regiment in June 1863. Shaw took part in the regiment's activities in Virginia and Maryland, including; construction of Fort Tillinghast and Fort Craig ; guard and patrol duty in and around Falls Church, Virginia ; guard and patrol duty in and around Falmouth, Virginia ; battles at Rappahannock Station, White Sulphur Springs, and Gainesville ; Second Battle of Bull Run ; Chantilly ; South Mountain ; Antietam ; and Fredericksburg. 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. In May, the regiment left Maryland for New York so it could be mustered out. 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. 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. 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. The provost marshal's staff also tracked down deserters from the front lines and returned them to their units or imprisoned them. After the war, Shaw was commissioned as a colonel and assigned as commander of the New York National Guard's 36th Infantry Regiment. He served until resigning in 1868 to accept a US consul's appointment.
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. He was also active in Watertown's civic life, including service as president of its Young Men's Christian Association and chamber of commerce. Shaw was long active in the Grand Army of the Republic, and was elected department commander for New York in 1897. In 1899 he was elected commander-in-chief of the GAR's national organization, and he served until 1900.
Congressman
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. He was reelected to the 57th Congress, but died before the term began on March 4, 1901. Shaw's brief Congressional service spanned from November 6, 1900 until his death.
Death and burial
Shaw died in Washington, D.C. on February 10, 1901. 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. He was found dead the next morning, and the physician summoned to his room found the cause to be apoplexy. He was interred at Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, New York.
Family
In 1872, Shaw married Mary Sherwood Keith of Chicago. They were the parents of three children - Henry L. Keith Shaw, Mabel Keith Shaw, and Minnie Scott Shaw.
