Robert Stroud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Stroud
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Stroud in 1951
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| Born |
Robert Franklin Stroud
January 28, 1890 Seattle, Washington, US
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| Died | November 21, 1963 (aged 73) Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield, Missouri, US
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| Resting place | Masonic Cemetery, Metropolis, Illinois, US |
| Other names | The Birdman of Alcatraz |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Spouse(s) |
Della May Spore
(m. 1931) |
| Criminal charge |
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| Penalty | 54 yrs overall |
Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963) was a famous American prisoner. He became widely known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz." Stroud spent many years in federal prisons.
While he was at Leavenworth Penitentiary, he became a respected expert on birds, called an ornithologist. He even raised and sold birds. Later, he was moved to Alcatraz, where he was not allowed to keep his birds. Stroud remained in prison until he died in 1963.
Contents
Early Life and Imprisonment
Robert Stroud was born in Seattle, Washington. When he was 13 years old, he left home due to a difficult family life. In January 1909, he was sent to prison for 12 years after an incident.
Stroud became known as a difficult prisoner. He often had arguments with other inmates and prison staff. In 1916, he was involved in an incident where a guard died. After several trials, his sentence was changed to life in prison. He was then held in solitary confinement, meaning he was kept alone.
The Birdman of Leavenworth
In 1920, while still in solitary confinement at Leavenworth, Stroud found a nest with three injured sparrows. He decided to care for them. Over a few years, he gathered a collection of about 300 canaries.
A prison warden who wanted to improve the prison system gave Stroud equipment. This allowed Stroud to start deep research into birds. He wrote a book called Diseases of Canaries. This book was secretly taken out of Leavenworth and published in 1933. A new version came out in 1943.
Stroud made important discoveries about bird diseases. He found a cure for a serious bird illness. This work earned him respect from bird experts and farmers. Stroud ran a successful business selling birds and his research from inside the prison. However, his activities often made the prison staff angry. Because of this, he was moved to Alcatraz in 1942.
Life at Alcatraz
On December 19, 1942, Stroud began serving a 17-year term at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. At Alcatraz, he was not allowed to have his birds or his research equipment. Instead, he spent his time writing a history of the prison system.
In May 1946, a major event happened at Alcatraz known as The Battle of Alcatraz. During this event, Stroud tried to help protect other prisoners.
In 1959, Stroud was moved to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. He stayed there until he died on November 21, 1963.
Legacy and Popular Culture
Robert Stroud is considered one of the most well-known prisoners in American history. Some people, like Robert Niemi, said Stroud had a "superior intellect." He became a "first-rate ornithologist and author." However, he was also seen as "extremely dangerous" and was "disliked and distrusted by his jailers and fellow inmates."
Later in his life, Stroud's behavior improved. He was viewed more positively by some. Carl Sifakais described Stroud as a "brilliant self-taught expert on birds." He is seen as a great example of someone who improved themselves while in prison.
Because of his important work with birds, Stroud gained many supporters. Thousands of bird breeders and poultry farmers wanted him to be released from prison. In 1963, a young lawyer named Richard M. English took up Stroud's case. He tried to get support from former President Harry S. Truman, but Truman did not agree to help. English also met with officials from the Kennedy administration.
Richard English took the last known photo of Stroud. In this picture, Stroud is wearing a green visor. The prison warden tried to have English charged for bringing something into the prison that he didn't take out: unexposed film. However, the authorities decided not to take any action. After Stroud's death, his personal items, including his original writings, were given to English. English later gave some of these items to the Audubon Society, a group that protects birds.
Books and Films
Stroud became the subject of a 1955 book called Birdman of Alcatraz by Thomas E. Gaddis. Gaddis believed in helping prisoners improve themselves. He showed Stroud in a good way in his book.
This book was made into a 1962 film of the same name. It was directed by John Frankenheimer. The movie starred Burt Lancaster as Stroud. Karl Malden played a fictional prison warden. Thelma Ritter played Stroud's mother, and Betty Field played his wife, who was called Stella Johnson in the film. However, some former Alcatraz prisoners said that the real Stroud was much more dangerous and unpleasant than the character shown in the book and movie.
Art Carney played Stroud in a 1980 TV movie called Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story. Dennis Farina played Stroud in the 1987 TV movie Six Against the Rock. This movie showed the events of the Battle of Alcatraz in 1946.
Music and Games
In music, Stroud is the subject of an instrumental song called "Birdman of Alcatraz." This song is from Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (1977). The song "The Birdman" by the band Our Lady Peace is also about him.
Several video games, such as Galerians and Team Fortress 2, have references to him. Also, a well-known rapper named Bryan Christopher Williams chose the stage name Birdman (Birdman (rapper)).
Images for kids
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Stroud in 1951
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Stroud around 1959
See also
In Spanish: Robert Franklin Stroud para niños
