Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/211

* ROBERTS- AUSTEN. 189 ROBERTSON. devised methods fcir several new alloys, among thein that of pold and alumiuuui. ROB'ERTSON,. AGNE.S. An English actress. See lioiCRAi LT, ilrs. DlON. ROBERTSON, Frederick William (1816- 53). Une uf the most famous of English preach- ers. He was horn in London, Februarys, ISKj, and was educated at Edinburgli. After a year spent in the study of law, at the age of twenty-one he was entered at Brasenose College, Oxford, to study for the ministry, and ininiediatelj- on his graduation in 1S40 he was ordained deacon. His first curacy was that of Saint Maurice and Saint Mary Kalendar, Winchester; but his health failed at the end of a year and he was forced to seek rest on the Continent. His next curacy was at Christ Church, Cheltenham, where he remained four years, and then again sought rest in the Tyrol. In 1847 he went to Saint Ebbe's, Oxford, and from there, in August of the same year, to Trinity Chapel, Brighton. This was the scene of his most successful labors, and he is familiarly known as ' 'Robertson of Brighton.' But he was not strong, and the work was hard. In 1S52 he gave signs of failing health, and he died the following year. Eobertson was a man of singular beauty and strength of character. He inherited military spirit and was celebrated for the soldierly quali- ties of courage, self-devotion, and adherence to duty. Theologically he began as a moderate Cal- vinist of the Evangelical type, but he became dissatisfied with Evangelicalism during his four years at Cheltenham, and after a Idtter struggle embraced opinions which antagonized the ortho- doxy of his day and marked him as a 'Broad' churcliman. At one time, in the early days of his ministi'y, he cultivated the ascetic life with great rigiditj', but broke down under the pli.vsical strain. He was preeminently a preacher rather than a theologian, and his fame rests almost exclusively upon his sermons and addresses at Brighton, which have been published in many editions. In his character and his preaching he appealed to thoughtful men of all classes in so- ciety and of all shades in religious belief. The devotion of the workingmen of Brighton to him was pathetic. He practically founded their in- stitute and they found in him a friend and brother. The handsome monument erected to his memory in the cemetery at Brighton bears on one of its faces their tribute to his memory in the bronze medallion which they placed on their benefactor's tomb. Consult the Life mid Letters of F. W. Robertson, edited by Stopford Brooke (London, 180.5). ROBERTSON, George Croom (184'2-92). A Scottisli philosopher, born at Aberdeen. He took his degree of M.A. at the University of Aberdeen ( I86I ). where he formed a lasting and helpful friendship with Prof. Alexander Bain (q.v.), and continued his philosophical studies at University College, London, and in France and Germany. After holding a minor appoint- ment in Greek at Aberdeen, he was elected ( ISfiG) professor of mental philosophy and logic in Uni- versity College, This position he held till just before his death. In spite of ill health, Robert- son exerted a great influence on his time. He was the first editor of Mind, and wrote important articles for the ninth edition of the EueiieIop(edia Britannica. His contributions to Mind were edited with a memoir by Professor Ilain under the title I'liilvsupliit-al Ucmuiiis (London and Edinburgh, 1894) ; and two vuhimc.i of liis lec- tures at University College from 1870 to 181)3 w-cre edited from notes by Rhys Davids uiidi-r the titles L'temciits of (Scnernl I'hilnxiiithij and Elc- meiil)! of I'siieholoyi/ (London, 181I0). ROBERTSON, .James (17'25-88). An Eng- lish soldier. Governor of New York during a part of the Revolutionary War. He was liorn in Fifoshire, and while "a young man entered the army as a jirivate. He served in America in the French and Indian Wixt. first as nmior in the Royal American Troops, then as deputy quartermaster, and finally as lieutenant-colonel in the campaign against ticonderoga. After the war he became barrack master in New York City, and is said to have acquired a fortune by clipping the coin used in l)iying supplies and by other unscrupulous mctliods. He was pro- moted colonel in 177"2, was with the British army during the siege of Boston, ami com- manded a brigade at the battle of Long Island. He was made a major-general in 1770, and in the same year was appointed civil (iovernor of Xew Y'ork. His administration was arbitrary and corrupt, and by his acticms he alicnateii many who were still favorable 1o the royal cau.se. In 1781 lie was appointed commandcr-incliief in Virginia, but owing to the arrival of Cornwallis in that province, he returned to Xew Y'ork. He died in London. Consult Jones, nintory of .Veio York Durinq the Rerolulionary ^yur, edited by De Lancey (Xew York, 1870). ROBERTSON, James (17421814). . American pioneer, born in Brunswick County, A'-a., whence his parents early removed to North Carolina. In 1770 he crossed the Allcghanies willi Daniel Boone, and lived for a time on the Watauga River. He returned to North Car:)lina, and in 1771 led a party of settlers to the 'atauga region, and was one of the founders of the Watauga Association (q.v.). When this region was found to be a part of the Cherokee lands of Xorth Carolina. Robertson went as com- missioner to the Indians. With John Sevier (q.v.) and forty men he withstood a fierce at- tack on the fort by the Indians under Oconostota. In 1778 he joined Richard Henderson (q.v.) in the settlement of a large tract of land on the Cumberland, and founded Xashborough (the present city of Nashville). On the formation of the 'Compact' in 1780 he was elected chairman of the board of 'General Arbitrators' or 'Notables' and colonel of the forces. Robertson was almost constantly engaged in Indian battles, led the C(dd Water Expedition in 178.'). and invaded the Indian country. On the mganization of Tennessee as a Territory in I7!»l. he became brigadier-general of the western or Jliro district. He was a niemlier of the convention to form a State Constitution in 178, and afterwards acted as Indian agent. He was a State Senator in 1708, and a trustee of the Davidson .cademy (Cumberland College) in 1803. In ISO.i, as spe- cial agent to the Chickasaws. he secured by the conqiact of .luly •2.'Sd the cession of much of their land, and the same year secured the Choctaw lands in ^fississippi. He was afterwards called ui)on to arbitrate differences arising from con- fusion of boundaries. During the War of 1812 he did much to prevent the Indians from joining the British. Consult: Putnam, ii/c a»i</ jfi»ic« o/^