Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/144

 KOBINSON

ROBINSON

state senator. 1870, ami a UepuMican represen- tative from the eleventh Massjichuselts district in the 45th. 4Clh. 47th congri-sses, 1S77-S3. and re-elei'ted from the twelfth district to the 48th congress, but resigned to become governor of Massa- chusetts. During his administration, 1884- 87. he effected the passage of several democratic measures, among them the free school-book bill and the compulsory weekh' payment of wages by corpora- tions. He subse- quently practised law, having an office at Springfield, but continuing to make his home in Chicopee. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Amherst in 1884 and from Harvard in 1886. He died in Chicopee, Mass.. Feb. 22. 1896.

ROBINSON, Harriet Jane (Hanson), author, was burn in Boston. Mass., Feb. 8, IS'25; daughter of William (1795-1831) and Harriet (Browne) Hanson; granddaughter of Jolin and Sally (Getchel) Hanson and of Seth Ingersoll (minute- man) and Sarah (Godding) Browne, and a de- scendant of Thomas Hanson (died 1666) of Salmon Falls, N.H., who was admitted freeman, 1661, and whose widow, Mary, was killed by the In- dians in 1689, and of Nicholas and Elizabeth Browne, who emigrated from Worcestershire, Eng., and settled in Lynn Village, Mass., before 16^8, and in Reading, Mass.. 1644. Harriet J. Hanson attended the public scliools of Boston and Lfjwell, Mass., was one of the group of writers for the Lowell Offering, a magazine filled entirely with the contributions of the factory girls of Lowell, and also wrote for various annuals and newspapers, including the Journal and Courier, at that time under the editorship of William Stevens Robin.son (q.v.) to whom she was married. Nov. .30. 1848. Of her four chil- hren. Harriette R. Shattuck (q.v.) became an author of reputation. She subsequently assisted in the literary part of her husband's editorial work: was in sympathy with the anti-.slavery cause and with the political reforms of the day, writing for the woman suffrage movement and also speaking in its belialf before the Massachu- setts legislature and l)efore the select committee on woman suffrage of the U.S. senate, 1882, and was a member of tlip National Woman Suffrage association and of the International Council at Washington, D.C., 1888. She was active in the

promotion of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. 1890, serving on its constitutioiial com- mittee, and as a member of its advisory board, and in 1898 became a member of the New Eng- land Historic Genealogical society. Her publica- "*■ tions include: '■'Warrington" Pen Portniits, with memoir (1877); Massachusetts in the Womayi Suffrage Movement (1881-83); Captain Mary Miller, a woman suffrage drama (1887); The New Pandora, a classical drama (1889); Loom and Spindle (1898). Mrs. Robinson was residing in Maiden. Mass., in 1903.

ROBINSON, Horatio Nelson, mathematician, was born in Hartwick, Otsego county, N.Y., Jan. 1, 1806. He obtained a common school education, early displaying a taste for mathe- matics, and in 1822 he made the calculations for an almanac. He attended the College of New Jersey, Princeton, and was an instructor in mathematics in the U.S. navy. 1825-35, after which he devoted liimself to teaching and to the preparation of text-books. The honorary degree of A.M. was conferred on him by the College of New Jersey in 1836. He is the author of a series of elementary mathematical text-books, includ- ing: Universal Key to the Science of Algebra (1844); Elementary Treatise on Algebra (1846); University Algebra (\m); Astronomy, University Edition (ISid), luid Geometry and Trigonometry (1850). He also wrote Treatise on Astronomy (1850); Mathematical Recreations (1851); Con- cise Mathematical Operations (1854); Treatise on Surveying and Navigation (1857; revised and edited by Oren Root, 1863); Analytical Geometry and Conic Sections (1864); Differential and In- tegral CalctUns (1861): edited by Isaac F. Quinhy, 1868). He died in Ell)rid,£re. N.Y.. Jan. 19, 1867.

ROBINSON, James C, representative, was born in Edgar county, 111., in 1822. He received a very limited education; served as a private in the Mexican war, 1846-47; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. He was a Demo- cratic representative from Illinois in the 86tli- 38th and 42d-43d congre.sses, 1859-65 and 1871-75. He removed from iMarsliall to Springfield, III., where he died, Nov. 3, 1886.

ROBINSON, James Harvey, historian, was born in Bloomington, 111., June 29. 1863; son of James Harvey and Latricia Maria (Drake) Robin- son; grandson of Benjamin and Ruhama (Wood) Robin.son and of the Rev. Benjamin Bradnerand Melinda (Pansons) Drake, and a descendant of Isaac Robinson (.son of Rev. John Robinson, the Leyden pastor), wiio settled in Plymouth in 1630, and married Mary Hanford. He was graduated from Harvard in 1887, and was married Sept. 1, 1877, to Grace Woodville, daughter of Charles Edward Read of Bloomington, III. He took post- graduate courses at Harvard and in Germany,