Robert Anderson was an American military leader. He served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, known for his defense of Fort Sumter when the Confederates bombarded it and forced its surrender to start the war. He is often referred to as Major Robert Anderson due to the rank he held as commander of Fort Sumter. After Sumter fell, Anderson was promoted to brigadier general and given command of Union forces in Kentucky, but was removed late in 1861 and reassigned to Rhode Island, before retiring from military service in 1863.