George Robertson (congressman)

George Robertson (November 18, 1790 – May 16, 1874) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.

George Robertson
Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
In office 1829 – 1834 1864 – 1871
Nominated by	Thomas Metcalfe Thomas E. Bramlette
18th Secretary of State of Kentucky
In office September 6, 1828 – December 1828
Governor	Thomas Metcalfe
Preceded by	James Chamberlayne Pickett
Succeeded by	Thomas T. Crittenden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 7th district
In office March 4, 1817 – 1821
Preceded by	Samuel McKee
Succeeded by	John Speed Smith
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office 1822-1827 1848 1851-1852
Personal details
Born	(1790-11-18)November 18, 1790 Mercer County, Kentucky
Died	May 16, 1874(1874-05-16) (aged 83) Lexington, Kentucky
Resting place	Lexington Cemetery
Political party	Democratic-Republican Whig
Alma mater	Transylvania University
Profession	Lawyer, Professor
Signature

Early life

Born near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Robertson pursued preparatory studies and attended Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, until 1806. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1809, and commenced practice in Lancaster, Kentucky.

Legal and political career

Robertson's house in Lancaster, Kentucky. This home was at different times owned by Robert Letcher, U.S.Congressman and Kentucky Governor, and John Boyle, U.S.Congressman, Judge, Kentucky Court of Appeals, and Judge, U.S. Federal District Court of Kentucky.

Robertson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Congresses and served from March 4, 1817, until his resignation in 1821, before the convening of the Seventeenth Congress. He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Fifteenth Congress). He served as member of the Kentucky House of Representatives 1822–1827, serving four years as speaker. He declined the appointment as Governor of Arkansas Territory tendered by President James Monroe and the diplomatic posts of United States Minister to Colombia in 1824 and to Peru in 1828. He served as Secretary of State of Kentucky in 1828. He was appointed associate justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1829 and served as chief justice from 1829 to 1834, when he resigned. He resumed the practice of law in Lexington, Kentucky, and became professor of law in Transylvania University 1834–1857.

Robertson was elected as a Whig a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1848, 1851, and 1852, and served as speaker in the two last-named years. He served as justice of the Court of Appeals for the Second District of Kentucky 1864–1871 and acting chief justice part of the time. He died in Lexington, Kentucky, May 16, 1874, and was interred at Lexington Cemetery.

Robertson's sister, Charlotte, was the second wife of Kentucky Governor Robert P. Letcher.

George Robertson is the namesake of Robertson County, Kentucky.

References

• United States Congress. "George Robertson (id: R000322)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 261–264. Retrieved 2008-11-10.

External links

• George Robertson at Find a Grave