of casts for the. Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York. 1891-95, and with II. W. Kent
selected and arranged the collection of casts in
the Springfield (Mass.) Art museum, 1898-99.
He was secretary of the Art Commission of the
City of Boston, 1890-98 ; was made a member of
the council of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, and a member of the council of
the Archaeological Institute of America ; a cor
porate member of the American Oriental society ;
corresponding member of the American Institute
of Architects, and a member of the American
Committee of the Egypt Exploration Fund of
London. He prepared the catalogues of Greek and
Roman casts and of Greek, Etruscan and Roman
[508]
ROBINSON
ROBINSON
vases, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and is the
author of : Did the Greeks Paint Their Sculp
tures ? (Century, April, 1892); and Annual Re
ports of the Trustees of the Museum of Fine Arts.
ROBINSON, Ezekiel Oilman, educator, was
born in Attleborougli, Mass., March 23, 1813 ; sou
of Ezekiel and Cynthia (Slack) Robinson ; and a
lineal descendant of George Robinson, one of the
original purchasers from the Indians of the town
of Rehoboth. He was graduated from Brown
university, A.B., 1838, A.M., 1841, and from the
Newton Theological institution in 1842 ; was or
dained to the Baptist ministry in November,
1842, and was pastor at Norfolk, Va., 1842-43,
being chaplain of the University of Virginia for
one year while in Norfolk. He was married, Feb.
21, 1844, to Harriet Richards Parker, daughter of
Charles and Catharine (Packard) Richards and
adopted daughter of Caleb Parker of Roxbury,
Mass. He was pastor at Cambridge. Mass.. 1845-
46 : professor at the Covington Theological insti
tution, 1846-49 ; pastor in Cincinnati. Ohio, 1849-
52 ; professor at Rochester Theological seminary,
1832-60 ; president of the seminary, 1860-72 ; pres
ident and professor of moral and intellectual phil
osophy at Brown university, 1872-89 ; professor
BROWN UNIVERSITY.
of apologetics and evidences of Christianity at
Crozer Theological seminary, 1889-94, and pro
fessor of ethics and apologetics at the University
of Chicago. 1892-94. He was president of the
American Baptist Missionary union, 1877-80 ; was
a lecturer on systematic divinity at the Andover
Theological seminary, 1882-83: preacher at the
Yale Divinity school, and a trustee of Vassar
college. 1861-94. The honorary degree of D.D.
was conferred on him by Brown university in
1833 and that of LL.D. by Brown in 1872 and by
Harvard in 1886. He was editor of the Christian
Review, 1839-64 ; translated Neander s " Planting
and Training of the Christian Church" (1863) ;
and is the author of: Lectures on Preaching
(1883) : Principle and Practice of Morality (1888) ,
and Christian Theology (1894). He died in Bos
ton. Mass., June 13, 1894.
ROBINSON, Frank Torrey, art critic, was
born in Salem, Mass., July 16,1845: of English
Quaker descent. His grandfather, who had im
migrated to America, was a soldier in the war of
1812. Frank Torrey Robinson attended the Har
vard and Warren schools in Charlestown, Mass.,
and in 1861 enlisted in the 5th Massachusetts vol
unteers, participating in the North Carolina and
Virginia campaigns. Returning to Boston, he
was employed for a year in the office Of the
Advertiser; subsequently completed his studies
in Professor Spear s college, and after earning a
precarious living by work in a wholesale grocery
store, in a blacksmith shop and as a book-keeper,
lie adopted journalism as his profession, becoming
local reporter for the Boston Journal, Advertiser
and the Bunker Hill Times. He was married in
1871 to Mary Jane Tufts of Somerville, Mass. He
began to make a specialty of art criticism in 1875 ;
edited the Boston Sunday Times. 1879-83 ; was
art director for the New England Manufacturers
institute, 1883-86, editing their art catalogue and
an -Art Year Book," 1883; was afterward con
nected as art critic with the Boston Traveler and
Post; edited American Art, Boston, 1886-88. and
for several years served as literary curator of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York city,
whose catalogues and handbooks he also edited.
In 1897 he traveled abroad, selecting in London
and Paris the pictures exhibited in the Jordan
Art gallery, 1898. He svas a member of the Paint
and Clay club, Boston, serving as chairman of its
house committee in 1897. His publications in
clude : History of the 5th Regiment, Massachu
setts Volunteers ; Quaint New England ; Living
New England Artists (1888): Christmas Morning
(1890) , and Winds of the Seasons (1890) . He died
in Roxbury. Mass.. June 3. 1898.
ROBINSON, George Dexter, governor of Massa
chusetts, was born in Lexington, Mass., Jan. 20,
1834 ; son of Charles and Mary (Davis) Robinson ;
grandson of Jacob and Hannah (Simonds) Robin
son and of Abel and Lavinia (Hosmer) Davis, and
a descendant of William Robinson, who was born
April 20, 1682, and of Joseph Hosmer, who
served as adjutant at Concord, April 19, 1775. He
was brought up on his father s farm ; attended
Lexington academy and Hopkins classical school,
and was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1856,
A.M., 1859. He was principal of the high school
at Chicopee, Mass., 1836-65 ; was admitted to the
bar in Cambridge, 1866, and began practice in
Chicopee. He was married, Nov. 24, 1859, to
Hannah E., daughter of William and Nancy
(Pierce) Stevens of Lexington, Mass. She died
Sept. 5, 1864, and on July 11. 1867, he married
Susan E., daughter of Joseph F. and Susan (Mulli-
ken) Simonds of Lexington. He was a member
of the general court of Massachusetts, 1874 ; : &
[509]
ROBINSON
ROBINSON
state senator, 1876, and a Republican represen
tative from the eleventh Massachusetts district
in the 45th, 46th, 47th congresses, 1877-83, and
re-elected 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
weekly 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,
\vas born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 8, 1825 ; daughter
of William (1795-1831) and Harriet (Browne)
Hanson ; granddaughter of John 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
1638, and in Reading, Mass., 1644. Harriet J.
Hanson attended the public schools of Boston
and Lowell, 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 Robinson (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 behalf before the Massachu
setts legislature and before the select committee
on woman suffrage of the U.S. senate, 1882, and
was a member of the National Woman Suffrage
association and of the International Council at
Washington, B.C., 1888. She was active in the
promotion of the General Federation of Women s
Clubs, 1890, serving on its constitutional 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: " Harrington " Pen Portraits,
with memoir (1877) ; Massachusetts in the Woman
Suffrage Movement (1881-83); Captain Mary
Miller, a woman suffrage drama (1887) ; Tlie Aen-
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 count} , 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 himself 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 (1847) ; Astronomy, University
Edition (1849), and 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 Calculus (1861 ; edited by Isaac F. Quimby,
1868). He died in Elbridge. 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, 18^6-47 ; studied law, and was
admitted to the bar in 1850. He was a Deino-
cratic representative from Illinois in the 36th-
38th and 42d-43d congresses, 1859-65 and 1871-75.
He removed from Marshall to Springfield, 111.,
where he died, Nov. 3, 18s(>.
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)
Robinson and of the Rev. Benjamin Bradnerand
Melinda (Parsons) Drake, and a descendant of
Isaac Robinson (son of Rev. John Robinson, the
Ley den pastor), who 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, 111. He took post
graduate courses at Harvard and in Germany,
[510]
ROBINSON
ROBINSON
receiving the degree Ph.D. from Freiburg in
1890. He was lecturer on European history at the
University of Pennsylvania, 1891 : associate pro
fessor, 1893-95, and in 1895 became professor of
history at Columbia university. He was also
acting dean of Barnard college, 1900-01. He was
an editor of the Annals of the American Acad
emy of Political and Social Science, 1891-95,
and is the author of : The German Bundesrath
(1891); Petrarch, the First Modern Scholar
and Man of Letters (with H. W. Rolfe, 1899) ;
An Introduction to the History of Western Eu
rope (1903), and also co-operated with others in
editing and publishing Translations and Re
prints from the Original Sources of European
History/
ROBINSON, James M., representative, was
born near Fort Wayne, Intl., Ma} 31, 1861 ; son of
David A. and Isabella (Bowen) Robinson ; grand
son of James and Rebecca (Jacobs) Robinson and of
Robert and Sarah (Mercer) Bowen. He attended
the public schools until 187G, when he obtained
employment in a shop, where he continued until
1881, meanwhile studying law. He was admitted
to the bar in 1882. and established himself in
practice in Fort Wayne. He was prosecuting-
attorney, 1888-92, and was a Democratic repre
sentative from the twelfth congressional district
of Indiana in the 55th, 56th and 57th congresses,
1897-1903, and was re-elected to the 58th con
gress for the term expiring in 1905. He was
married, Nov. 28, 1900. to Lily M., daughter of
Hugli M. and Ada S. Jones of Fort Wayne, Ind.
ROBINSON, James Sidney, soldier, was born
near Mansfield, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1827. He was
brought up on a farm, attended the common
schools, and at an early age learned the printer s
trade in Mansfield. He established and edited
the Weekly Re})iiblican at Canton, Ohio. 1847-65,
served as secretary of the first convention of the
Republican party in Ohio in 1856, and as clerk
of the Ohio house of representatives. 1856-58. He
enlisted as a private in the 4th Ohio volunteers in
1861, was appointed captain a few days afterward,
and served under General McClellan in West Vir
ginia, taking part in the battle of Rich Mountain,
July 11, 1861. His enlistment of three months
having expired, he re-enlisted in October, 1861, as
major of the 82nd Ohio volunteers. He served in
Schenck s brigade, under General Fremont in the
Shenandoah valley ; was promoted lieutenant-col
onel in April, 1862, and May 7. 1862, accompanied
his brigade from Franklin. Va.. to McDowell,
marching thirty-four miles in twenty-three hours,
rescuing General Milroy s brigade, and beating
an orderly retreat to Franklin. At the second
battle of Bull Run he fought in General Milroy s
unattached brigade, and when Colonel Cantwell
was wounded he assumed command of the regi
ment. He was promoted colonel and at Chancel-
lorsville his regiment was not attached to any brig
ade or division, but was with the eleventh corps,
which received the brunt of Jackson s charge,
Robinson s regiment losing eighty-one men in the
attack. After Chancellorsville, his regiment was
attached to the second brigade of Carl Schurz s
division of the eleventh corps, which was march
ing with the first corps, under General Reynolds,
when the news that Buford was engaged caused
them to hurry forward and possess the field until
Hancock could come to their support. Colonel
Robinson was wounded at Gettysburg, and when
the eleventh and twelfth corps were sent west to
join General Thomas s army, Robinson had not
recovered from his wound and was not at Chatta
nooga ; but when Sherman started for Atlanta, the
eleventh and twelfth corps were merged into the
twentieth corps under General Hooker, and
Colonel Robinson was given command of the
third brigade, first division. He was promoted
brigadier-general of volunteers, Jan 12, 1865, was
brevetted major-general, March 13, and was mus
tered out, Aug. 31, 1865. He engaged in railroad
building in Ohio after the war, served as chair
man of the Republican state executive committee,
1877-79, and was state commissioner of railroads
and telegraphs in 1880. He was a Republican
representative from the 9th Ohio district in the
47th and 48th congresses, 1881-85, and secretary
of the state of Ohio, 1884-88. He died in Toledo,
Ohio. Jan. 14. 1892.
ROBINSON, John Bunyan, educator, was born
at Osceola, Ohio, April 11, 1834 ; son of Adin and
Jane (Anderson) Robinson ; grandson of William
and Eleanor (Wright) Robinson of Harpers Ferry,
Va. , and of James and Margarette (Brownlee)
Anderson of Carlisle, Pa. He was graduated from
Ohio Wesleyan university, A. B., 1860, A.M., 1863;
entered the Methodist ministry ; was principal
of Mt. Washington academy, 1860-64 ; president
of Willoughby college, 1864-69 ; president of
Fort Wayne college, 1869-71 ; president of New
Hampshire Conference Seminary and Female
college, 1871-77 ; president of Grand Prairie
Seminary and Commercial college, 1877-84 ;
president of Jennings Seminary and Normal col
lege, 1884-87, and thereafter engaged in the active
ministry. He was married, first, in December,
1860, to Emily Ada, daughter of Judge David H.
and Elizabeth (Reybourn) Morris. And secondly,
Sept. 11, 1896, to Sarah Narcissa, daughter of
Henry Watson and Sarah Ann (Older) Montross.
He received the honorary degree of D.D. from
De Pauw university and from Illinois Wesleyan
university in 1879; that of Ph.D. from the Uni
versity of Wooster in 1884. and that of LL.D.
from Taylor university in 1896. He is the author
of: Infidelity Answered (1875); Vines of Eshcol
[511]
ROBINSON
ROBINSON
(1876) ; The Serpent of Sugar Creek (1885) ;
Eineline, or Home. Siceet Home, in poetry (1876) ;
PreacJiers Pilgrimage (1886; German Edition,
1888) ; Commencement Week (1880) ; The Ep-
ivortli League: Its place in Methodism (1890);
The Neiv Woman, and other Poeis(1896).
ROBINSON, John Cleveland, soldier, was
born in Binghamton, N.Y., April 10, 1817. He
attended the U.S. Military academy, 1835-38,
leaving a year before graduation to study law.
He was commissioned 3d lieutenant, 5th U.S. in
fantry, Oct. 27,1839,
and in the Mexican
war served as regi
mental and brigade
quartermaster, 1845-
46 ; was promoted 1st
lieutenant, June 18,
1846, and took part
in the battles of Palo
Alto, Resaca de la
Palnia and Monterey.
He was promoted
captain, Aug. 13,
1850 ; served against
the hostile Indians
in Texas, 1853-54 ;
took part in the
Seminole Indian war in Florida, 1856-57, and
in the Utah expedition, 1857-58. He was in com
mand of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md.. 1861. and
prevented its capture by the secessionists. He
was appointed colonel of the 1st Michigan volun
teers, September, 1861 ; promoted major of 3d
infantry, Feb. 30, 1863, and commissioned briga
dier-general of volunteers. April 38, 1863 ; com
manded a brigade at Newport News, and had
command of the troops in the neighborhood of
Portsmouth, Va., until May, 1863. He command
ed the 1st brigade, Kearny s division, then the
3d division, 1st army corps, Army of the Poto
mac ; was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, U.S.A.,
July 1, 1863, for Gettysburg, and colonel, May 5,
1864, for the AVilderness. He commanded the
3d division, 5th army corps, and while leading a
charge at the battle of Spottsylvania, he was
wounded in the left knee, necessitating amputa
tion at the thigh. He was put in command of
the districts in New York state ; was brevetted
major-general of volunteers, June 37, 1864 ; briga
dier-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865, for Spottsyl
vania, Va., and major-general, U.S.A., March 13,
1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the
field during the war. He was military com
mander and commissioner of the bureau of freed-
men in North Carolina in 1866 ; was promoted
colonel of 43d infantry, July 38, 1866, and was
honorably mustered out of the volunteer service,
Sept. 1, 1866. He commanded the Department
of the South in 1867, and the Department of the
Lakes, 1867-68. and was retired with the rank
of major-general, U.S.A., May 6, 1869. He re
ceived the congressional medal of honor for
most distinguished gallantry in the battle of
Laurel Hill. Va., May 8. 1864, placing himself at
the head of his leading brigade in a charge upon
the enemy s breastworks, where he was severely
wounded." He was lieutenant-governor of New
York. 1873-74 : was commander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic, 1877-78, and presi
dent of the Society of the Army of the Potomac,
1887. He died in Binghamton. N.Y.. Feb. IS. 1897.
ROBINSON, John McCraken, senator, was
born in Scott county, Ky.. April 10, 1794 ; son of
Jonathan and Jane (Black) Robinson ; grandson
of George and Ann (Wiley) Robinson : great-
grandson of Philip Robinson, and a descendant
of Thomas Robinson, who came to America prior
to 1730, and was among the earliest Scotch-Irish
settlers in Pennsylvania. About 1818 he removed
to Carini, 111.. where he was admitted to the bar
and began practice. He was married, Jan. 38,
1839, to Mary Brown Davidson, daughter of James
and Margaret (Hargraves) Ratclilfe of Carmi, 111.
In 1833 he was elected U.S. senator to iill the
unexpired term of John McLean, deceased, and
for a full term, serving from Jan. 4, 1S33. to
March 3. 1843. On March 6, 1843, he became
judge of the supreme court of Illinois, serving
until his death, which occurred in Ottawa. 111..
April 37. 1843.
ROBINSON, John Mitchell, jurist, was born
in Caroline county, Md., in 1838. He was gradu
ated from Dickinson college, Pa., in 1847 : was
admitted to the bar in 1849, and began practice
in Queen Anne county in 1851. He was elected
deputy attorney-general for the county in Janu
ary, 1851 ; state attorney in November, 1851 ; was
judge of the circuit court, 1864-67 ; judge of the
court of appeals, 1867-93, and chief justice of
the court of appeals, 1893-96. He died in Anna
polis, Md., Jan. 14, 1896.
ROBINSON, John Staniford, governor of Ver
mont, was born in Bennington. Vt.. Nov. 10.
1804; son of Nathan Robinson, and grandson of
Gov. Moses (q.v. ) and Mary (Fay) Robinson.
He attended schools at Wind-
ham and Hartford. Conn. ;
was graduated from Wil
liams college in 1834 ; studied
law with David Robinson in
Bennington, and was ad
mitted to the bar in 1837.
He was a representative in
the state legislature for two terms : was twice
elected state senator, and was several times the
Democratic candidate for representative in con
gress. He was married in October, 1847, to Juli-
[5121
ROBINSON
ROBINSON
ette Stamford, widow of William Robinson, and
had no children. He was the candidate for gov
ernor of the state for 1851 and 1852, and was
elected in 1853, heing the only Democratic gov
ernor of Vermont for over half a century. He
subsequently declined the district judgeship of
Vermont, and was chairman of the Vermont del
egation to the Democratic national convention of
1860. and died during its session at Charleston,
S.C., April 25, I860.
ROBINSON, Jonathan, senator, was born in
Hardwick, Mass., Aug. 24. 1756; son of Samuel
(1707-1767) and Mercy (Leonard) Robinson : grand
son of Samuel Robinson and of Moses Leonard ;
great-grandson of Samuel and Sarah (Manning)
Robinson and of Moses Newton, and great-grand
son of William and Elizabeth (Brigham) Robin
son. William Robinson, a kinsman of the Rev.
John Robinson of Leyden and one of the early
Cambridge colonists, died in 1693. Samuel the
first, a soldier in the French war and in the
American Revolution, in which his sons also par
ticipated, founded the settlement at Bennington,
Vt., in 1761. Jonathan Robinson was admitted
to the bar in 1796. and practised in Bennington,
Vt., where he was married to Mary, daughter of
John Fassett. He was town clerk. 1795-1801 ; a
representative in the state legislature, 1789-1802 ;
judge of the probate court of Vermont, 1795-98,
1800-01 and 1815-19 ; chief justice of the supreme
court of Vermont, 1801-07, and was elected to
the U.S. senate in 1807 to fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of Israel Smith (q.v.). com
pleting the term, March 3. 1809. and was re-elected
in 1809 for the full term expiring March 3, 1815.
While in the senate he was a trusted adviser of
President Madison. He was judge of probate
four years, and a representative in the state
legislature in 1818. The honorary degree of
A.B. was conferred on him by Dartmouth in
1790, and that of A.M. by the same institution,
1803. He died in Bennington, Vt,, Nov. 3. 1819.
ROBINSON, Lewis Wood, naval officer, was
born in Camden county. N.J., March 7, 1840 ; son
of William and Anna (Wood) Robinson. He was
graduated from the Polytechnic College of Penn
sylvania in 1861. and in 1864 became a master of
mechanical engineering. He entered the U.S.
navy. Sept. 21, 1861. as 3d assistant engineer : took
part at the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
and at the fall of New Orleans in April. 1862, and
at the attack on Vicksburg by Farragut, June,
1862. and July 30, 1863, was promoted 2d assistant
engineer. He was married. Sept. 5. 1865, to Mary
De A. Rupp of Philadelphia. On Oct. 11, 1866,
he was promoted first assistant engineer with
rank of lieutenant, and in 1874 the title was
changed to past assistant engineer. He was gen
eral superintendent of the bureau of machinery
at the Centennial Exposition in 1876. On Aug.
19, 1883, he was promoted chief engineer with
the rank of lieutenant commander, and was chief
of the department of machinery at the World s
Columbian Exposition, 1893. In 1894 he served
on the U.S. cruiser Ailanta and the flagship
Newark. He was promoted commander, March
21, 1895 ; was assigned to the battleship Indiana,
Aug. 13, 1896, and in 1897 was transferred to the
navy yard at Philadelphia. He was promoted
captain, June 6, 1898, and assigned to inspection
and recruiting duty ; was commissioned captain
in the line. March 3, 1900; was made inspector
of machinery, Feb. 21, 1900, and retired with the