Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago. Reprinted by Southern Historical Press. p. 71. Fayette County. GEORGE ROBERTSON was one of the most conspicuous figures in the history of jurisprudence of the nation. In the long and crowded line of illustrious men of whom Kentucky is justly proud, the public life of not one other has extended over as long a period as his; and certainly the life of none has been more varied in service, more constant in honor, more fearless in conduct and more stainless in reputation. Judge Robertson was born November 18, 1790, in Mercer county, Kentucky, before the admission of the state into the Union; and through the formative period of the commonwealth, the epoch of its early development, through the dark days of the war and through the era of prosperity which followed he was a potent factor in the public life of the state which he honored more than it honored him; although it bestowed upon him the highest judicial offices within its power and offered to him many other public positions of trust. The family from which he sprang were closely identified with the settlement of the state from its earliest days. His father, Alexander Robertson, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia, about a mile from Staunton, November 22, 1748, was the son of James Robertson, who, with his father of the same name, emigrated to America from the neighborhood of Colerain, in the north of Ireland, about 1737. They were members of a colony that settled on Burden's grant, in the then trans-Alleghany wilderness of Virginia. Alexander Robertson, the celebrated historian, whose nephew, John Henry, was the father of Patrick Henry, of Virginia. Alexander Robertson was a man of strong mind, sterling moral qualities and of great popularity with all classes. He was elected a member of the Virginia federal convention, which met at Richmond in June, 1788, and was also elected a member of the Virginia legislature the ensuing winter. On the 18th of August, 1773, he was married in Bedford county, Virginia, to Margaret Robinson, the wedding being celebrated at the residence of Colonel John Howard, father of Governor Benjamin Howard, of Missouri. With his family Mr. Robertson removed to Kentucky, settling at Gordon's station, December 24, 1779. In 1792 he was elected the first sheriff of Mercer county. He died in 1802, and his wife, who was born April 13, 1735, in Fincastle county, now Montgomery county, Virginia, died June 13, 1846, in her ninety-second year, at the home of her son-in-law, ex-Governor Robert P. Letcher, in Frankfort. After acquiring a good elementary education in the English branches, Mr. Robertson, in August, 1804, was sent to Joshua Fry, who was then conducting a private school on his farm five miles west of Danville, to learn Latin, French and mathematics. He displayed remarkable aptitude in his studies and mastered whole pages with almost a single reading. His education was afterward continued in Transylvania University, where he remained until 1806, then spent four months as a student in the classical school conducted by Rev. Samuel Findley in Lancaster, Kentucky, and six months as a teacher in that institution. In the spring of 1808 he went to Frankfort to study law under Martin D. Hardin; but not being able to make the arrangements he had anticipated, he returned to Lancaster, and under the direction of his brother-in-law, Samuel McKee, then a member of congress, studied until September, 1809, when he was given a license to practice, signed by Judge John Boyle and Caleb Wallace. Mr. Robertson built up a fine practice. Believing that the true end of litigation, as of war, is peace, when consulted about a controversy, he advised a settlement, if a fair compromise could be effected before the passions of the parties had enlisted them irretrievably in the conflict. If this could not be done, he engaged with untiring zeal in the service of his client. Indefatigable at every stage of the contest, his ablest exhibitions were his addresses to the courts. Taking no notes of evidence and relying on but few authorities, he adduced reasons in profuse abundance, and none of them so frivolous as not to be plausible, for every proposition that he affirmed; and he responded immediately and forcible to the objections and authorities of the opposite party. Some of his discussions of dry propositions of law were, from the clearness, method and ingenuity more pleasing to cultivated minds than the most finished efforts of the rhetorician. All instruments of writing drawn by him are distinguished for their brevity, clearness and accuracy. He knew what was essential in the accepted forms, and therefore never used a form or any superfluous word, although its employment might be consecrated by immemorial usage. He was one of the most successful teachers of law that the state has produced, and even when a young man had many law students in his office. In November, 1809, when a few days over nineteen years of age, Judge Robertson married Eleanor Bainbridge, a daughter of Dr. Bainbridge of Lancaster. They began their domestic life in a small buckeye cabin of two rooms, concerning which house there is a remarkable history. Judge John Boyle, Samuel McKee, George Robertson and Robert P. Letcher all began housekeeping there in the order mentioned, and in the same order succeeded one another to a seat in congress. In 1816, when only twenty-six years of age, Judge Robertson was elected to congress, against formidable opposition, and remained a member until 1821, when he resigned. He soon acquired distinction in the house, was chairman of the land committee and a member of the judiciary and internal improvement committees. He drew and introduced the bill to establish a territorial government in Arkansas to which bill John W. Taylor, of New York, offered an amendment interdicting slavery. The restriction, after exciting discussion, was carried by one vote. A reconsideration was ordered, and the bill was finally passed divested of the restriction, by the casting vote of the speaker, Henry Clay. In 1820 Judge Robertson initiated--instead of the old system of disposing of the public lands on a credit at a minimum of two dollars per acre--the present system, requiring payment without credit, and reducing the minimum price to one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and the quantity that might be purchased to eighty acres, whereby any poor man who could command one hundred dollars might obtain a home. He advocated its adoption, although in opposition to most of the western members, led by Henry Clay, and the bill passed by a large majority. This measure has contributed more to the advancement and prosperity of the west than any other ever adopted. While serving in congress Mr. Robertson was also an active factor in settling the controversies which arose in his native state. In 1816 George Madison was elected governor and Gabriel Slaughter lieutenant governor of Kentucky, but the former died before the day of inauguration, and the latter was inaugurated as governor. At the next session of the legislature, in December, 1816, a resolution passed the house for a new election of governor. This led to a popular excitement which for more than a year agitated the state almost to revolution. Mr. Robertson, in the summer of 1817, published, over the signature "A Kentuckian," an argument against the new election, in pamphlet form, which exercised a powerful influence in allaying the excitement and settling the question against the new election. He also took an active part in the celebrated "relief" and "anti-relief," "Old Court" and "New Court" controversy in Kentucky. He was elected to the legislature from Garrard county in 1822, and for several successive years, until that contest was finally settled in 1826-27. He was elected speaker of the house in 1823, but in 1824 was defeated for the speakership by Robert J. Wood, of Scott county. It was at this session that the act was passed to repeal the act organizing the court of appeals and to reorganize a court of appeals. It was hence known as the "reorganizing act." After its passage the "anti-relief party" was on the eve of disbanding, but Mr. Robertson wrote, and, by adroit management, had entered upon the journal of the house, and protest against the act, which had the effect of uniting the anti-relief and Old Court parties. It was circulated far and wife, electrified the people and became the test of the party. Through the influence of the principles enunciated and the arguments promulgated in that document the constitution was triumphantly vindicated and maintained. Mr. Robertson was re-elected speaker, and served as such in 1825-26-27. He was the author of the "Manifesto" of the majority in 1826-27, and delivered many public addresses during that contest. His letters and writings were powerfully effective, but the letters over the signature of "Plebeian," and published in the "Spirit of '76," were peculiarly efficient, and may yet be read with pleasure and instruction as masterly specimens of political essays. The bent of Judge Robinson's active mind made him take a lively pleasure in the study of the science of government. Although he held but few political offices, and those for but a short time, and while upon the bench carefully lifted the judicial ermine above the mire of parties, he was a more active and efficient politician than many who have devoted their undivided time to public affairs, and who have obtained far greater distinction than ever fell on him. A vigilant and attentive observer of men and measures, he discussed from the platform and through the press most of the great public questions which were agitated during his times. This is attested by his various published addresses and by his letters and pamphlets on the theory of popular government, and on the relief laws, the tariff, the Missouri compromise and squatter sovereignty, common schools, the American policy against the new constitution, against an elective judiciary, on nullification and secession, the doctrine of popular instructions, slavery and emancipation and many other topics. Many official positions would have been conferred upon Judge Robertson had he not refused them. In 1828 he declined the nomination for governor. Governor Metcalfe, who was afterward nominated and elected, appointed him secretary of state, but he served in that capacity only a short time. The same year, however, he became chief justice, Judge Boyle having resigned his seat upon the appellant bench, and accepted the appointment of judge of the United States district court. Judges William Owsley and Benjamin Mills, after the termination of the contest in favor of the old court, resigned. George M. Bibb had previously been appointed chief justice. Judges William Owsley and Benjamin Mills were renominated by Governor Thomas Metcalfe, but rejected by the senate, and Mr. Robertson was nominated December 24, 1828, his nomination being confirmed. He accepted with the understanding that he might resign at the end of a year; but at that time he was appointed chief justice and served continuously until 1843, when he resigned his high trust, and returned to a lucrative practice at the bar. His professional course was marked by high integrity of purpose, and while presiding as judge of the appellate court, he enjoyed to an eminent degree the confidence of the bar and the public. Twice during his judicial service he was nominated for the United States senate. Judge Robertson was tendered the office of secretary of state by Governor Adair, in 1820, and afterward that of judge of the Fayette circuit, and as an inducement to his acceptance of the latter the authorities tendered him a law professorship in Transylvania University. In July, 1824, Hon. Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., then minister to Bogota, having expressed a desire to return home if Judge Robertson would take his place, the mission to Colombia was tendered him, but he declined. In 1828 President Adams tendered Judge Robertson the mission to Peru, which was also declined. Four times he declined appointments to the federal cabinet, and twice a seat on the bench of the United States supreme court. In 1848, and again in 1851-53, he represented Fayette county in the lower branch of the Kentucky legislature, and during one term, 1857, served as speaker. In December, 1834, he accepted the professorship of constitutional law, equity, and international law in the college at Lexington, and retained that position until 1858, when he resigned. In August, 1864, his name was placed upon the poll-books as a candidate for judge of the appellate court. This was done only two or three days before the election by friends who were alarmed at the open interference of the military in threatening or ordering the arrest of candidates who were style disloyal. In many parts of the district it was not known that he was made a candidate, but he was elected by a large majority. An office tendered under such extraordinary circumstances could not be declined, and although then in his seventy-fifth year he accepted it, discharging its onerous duties with diligence and ability until February 2, 1871, when he was stricken with paralysis while actually presiding as chief justice. The bar indulged the hope that he might recover and resume his duties, but at the opening of court in September Judge Robertson, after administering the oath of office to the governor-elect, Preston H. Leslie, September 5, 1871, resigned. It was an unexpected and a most impressive scene, bringing tears to the eyes of many of that large assemblage who had come there to witness the inauguration ceremonies. His death occurred at his home in Lexington, May 16, 1874, in his eighty-fourth year, and although prostrated by disease and physically disabled for some time previous his mind was entirely unimpaired and his mental faculties wholly unobscured. The life of this illustrious man was one of remarkable activity, full of incidents and results. In every sphere of life in which he was called to move he made an indelible impression. In his early manhood, and at the very threshold of life, he occupied the front rank in the profession of law and coped successfully with the greatest men of the nation. His great legal ability and his singular devotion to the interests committed to his charge won for him a reputation co-extensive with the state. He has done more for Kentucky jurisprudence, more to give it form within the state and fame abroad, than any other judge,--perhaps more than all other judges together that have ever sat in the court of appeals. He not only loved but he lived for the country, and in his life exemplified the spirit of his own words: "He alone who honestly dedicated his talents and his example to the happiness and improvement of his race lives for his country, whatever may be his sphere." He was an ardent lover of music from his early boyhood days, and gained considerable local celebrity as a violinist. Speaking of music, he said: "It exhilarates and tranquilizes the mind, elevates and purifies the heart, and thus contributes much of what scarcely any other amusement can as innocently contribute to improvement and happiness." His library contained the best works on philosophy and criticism; a good collection of English poetry and early periodical literature; the best of the English novels, prior to the time of Scott, and works of the best English dramatists; fine editions of choice translations of the Greek and Roman epic and dramatic poets and historians; popular treatises on all the sciences; standard works on divinity; theoretical disquisitions on government; histories, general and particular, of nations and of philosophy, and biographies and memoirs of the intrigues of court and parties, and writings on political economy; all of these he read with attention. But to know Judge Robertson was to know him at home; to know him there was to love him. The strongest wish of his youth was to have a settled home, and, when he had attained one, to make that home happy was the central object of all his efforts. Nobly did he redeem the hostages which, he says, he gave to fortune when he married, and the pledge which he made to cherish his children. His domestic affections were the source of his highest, purest and most constant enjoyments and his deepest afflictions came to him in the loss of the members of his family. He was a deep and earnest student of the Bible, and his views on religion were high and broad. He did not unite with any church until after his eightieth year, but he was ever a worshiper of the Creator; and his life evidence his belief. It is said of an eminent man of old that he has done things worthy to be written; that he has written things worthy to be read; and by his life has contributed to the welfare of the republic and the happiness of mankind. He on whom this transcendent eulogy can be pronounced with even partial truth is entitled to the gratitude of his race. Nowhere within the broad limits of the commonwealth of Kentucky has there died a man over whom whom this might more truthfully be said than George Robertson. Robertson Henry Robinson Howard Letcher Fry Findley McKee Boyle Wallace Bainbridge Taylor Wood Owsley Mills Bibb Anderson Leslie Hardin Madison Slaughter = Mercer-KY Franklin-KY Boyle-KY Lexington-Fayette-KY Garrard-KY Scott-KY Augusta-VA Fincastle-VA Montgomery-VA Bedford-VA MO NY Ireland Bogota http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/fayette/robertson.g.txt