Jonathan Robinson
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Robinson was an American jurist and politician from the state of Vermont
.
Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts
. He moved with his family to Bennington, Vermont at the age of 5. Robinson did not enter politics until he was about 30 years old, when his brother, Moses Robinson
became a successful politician. Jonathan Robinson was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1789. A few years later he decided to study law and passed the bar exam in 1795. Immediately after, he became a judge of the Vermont probate court and the town clerk of Bennington. He was a probate judge until 1798.
In 1801, Robinson was appointed to be the chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
, and soon left his positions as state representative and town clerk. He remained the chief justice until 1807, when he gained a position in the United States Senate
from Vermont, filling the unexpired term of Israel Smith
, who had resigned. Robinson was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party
. He was elected to a full term in the Senate in 1809 and remained a senator until 1815, when he retired after the end of his term. Robinson then served again as a probate judge from 1815 until his death four years later, and served for one more year in the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1818. He died in Bennington.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about west of the city of Worcester. It had a population of 2,990 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Hardwick, Gilbertville, Wheelwright and Old Furnace.- History :...
. He moved with his family to Bennington, Vermont at the age of 5. Robinson did not enter politics until he was about 30 years old, when his brother, Moses Robinson
Moses Robinson
Moses Robinson prominent Vermont political figure who served as governor during the Vermont Republic, and helped steward Vermont's transition to U.S. statehood. Not to be confused with the black dancer Moses J. Robinson from West Haven, Utah.Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts where he...
became a successful politician. Jonathan Robinson was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1789. A few years later he decided to study law and passed the bar exam in 1795. Immediately after, he became a judge of the Vermont probate court and the town clerk of Bennington. He was a probate judge until 1798.
In 1801, Robinson was appointed to be the chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
, and soon left his positions as state representative and town clerk. He remained the chief justice until 1807, when he gained a position in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Vermont, filling the unexpired term of Israel Smith
Israel Smith
Israel Smith was an American lawyer and politician who held a wide variety of positions in the state of Vermont....
, who had resigned. Robinson was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
. He was elected to a full term in the Senate in 1809 and remained a senator until 1815, when he retired after the end of his term. Robinson then served again as a probate judge from 1815 until his death four years later, and served for one more year in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1818. He died in Bennington.