Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/137

 ROBERTSON

ROBERTSON

ROBERTSON, Morgan, author, was born in Oswego, N.Y., Sept. 30, 1«61 ; son of Andrew and Ruth (Glasford) Robertson, and a descendant of William Chillingwortli. He attended the com- mon schools and Cooper institute, New York city, 1866-77, followed the life of a sailor, 1877-86, vis- iting the maritime ports of the world, and in 1886 entered the jewelry business in New York city. He was married. May 27, 1894, to Alice M., daugh- ter of William and Anna (Ross) Doyle of New York. He is the author of : A Tale of a Halo (1894); Sjnin Tarn (1898); Where Angels Fear to Tread (1899); Masters of Men (1901) ; Shipmates (IdOl) -,8 infill Peck (1903) ; Down to the Sea (1903), and short stories of the sea for various periodicals. ROBERTSON, Samuel Matthews, represen- tative, was born in Plaquemine, La., Jan. 1, 1853; son of Edward White Robertson (q.v.). He attended the Collegiate institute of Baton Rouge, and was graduated from the Louisiana State university in 1874. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 ; settled in practice in Baton Rouge, and represented East Baton Rouge in the Louisiana legislature, 1879-83. He M-as pro- fessor of natural history and commandant of cadets in Louisiana State university and Agri- cultural and Mechanical college at Baton Rouge, 1880-87. He was elected a Democratic repre- sentative in the 50th congress from the sixth Louisiana district, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father in 1887, and was re-elected to the 51st-58th congresses, 1889-1905.

ROBERTSON, Thomas Boiling, governor of Louisiana, was born at " Belfiekl," near Peters- burg, Va., in 1773 ; son of William and Elizabeth (Boiling) Robertson ; grandson of William Robert- son and of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gay) Boiling, and a descendant of Poca- hontas. His father emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland, and settled in Bristol parish, Va. Thomas B. Robertson was graduated at William and Mary college ; was ad- mitted to the bar, and en- gaged in practice at Petersburg, removing to Orleans territory in 1805, and soon after be- coming its attorney-general. He was appointed secretary of the territory by President Jeffer- son, temporarily, Aug. 12, permanentl5\ Nov. 18, 1807, and was recommissioned, Dec. 5, 1811. He served as district attorney ex officio in 1808 ; was elected the first representative from the state of Louisiana to the 12th congress and re-elected to the 13tli, 14th and 15th con- gresses, serving from Dec. 23, 1812, to the close of the first session of the 15th congress, April 20, 1818, when he resigned, Thomas Butler com- pleting his term. He was governor of Louisiana,

1820-24, resigning in November of the latter year to become U.S. judge for the district of Loui- siana, which position he held until a short time before his death, when he returned to Virginia. He was married to Lelia, daughter of Governor Fulwar Skipwith of West Florida, and his wife, who previous to her marriage was Miss Vander- clooster, a Flemish countess. He visited Paris during the last days of the Empire, and wrote letters to his family which were published in the Richmond Enquirer, and in book form entitled Events in Paris (1816). Governor Robertson died at White Sulphur Springs, Va., Nov. 5, 1828.

ROBERTSON, Thomas James, senator, was born in Fairfield district, S.C, Aug. 3, 1833. His ancestors were active Whigs in the Revolutionary war. He was graduated at South Carolina col- lege in 1843, and began to study medicine, but later engaged successfully in planting. He was aide-de-camp to Governor Allston, 1857-58, re- mained a firm supporter of the Federal govern- ment during the civil war ; was a member of the state constitutional convention, under tiie recon- struction acts of congress in 1865, and on the first meeting of the legislature under the new consti- tution in 1868, was elected with F. A. Sawyer to the U.S. senate, and drew the short term expiring March 3, 1871. He was re-elected in 1870 for a full term, serving from July 10, 1868, to March 3, 1877. He was chairman of the committee on manufactures. He resumed planting in 1877, and died at Columbia, S.C, Oct. 13, 1897.

ROBERTSON, Wyndham, governor of Vir- ginia, was born in Richmond, Va., Jan. 26, 1803 ; son of William and Elizabeth (Boiling) Robert- son, and brother of Thomas Boiling (q.v.) and John (q.v.) Robertson. He was graduated at William and Mary college in 1821 ; admitted to the bar in 1824, and settled in practice in Rich- mond. He visited London and Paris in 1827 ; was senior member of the state council, 1830-36, and prominent in matters of internal improve- ment in Virginia, succeeding to the office of governor on the resignation of Littleton Waller Tazewell, April 30, 1836, which office he filled until March, 1837. He represented Richmond in the state legislature, 1838-41 ; engaged in agricultural pur- Jy <>^\^^,^'^ suits, 1842-57, and repre- #^ «4^?^ sen ted Richmond in the house ;>'/ V^^ of delegates, 1860-65. He re- ii ^J-^- sisted the proposal of South V,^*^ Carolina to form a Southern ^^--ri Confederacy, and after the secession of the cotton states urged Virginia to stand neutral. He was chairman of the anti-co- ercion committee, and presented the resolution by which Virginia agreed to reject secession, but declared her intention to fight with the southern