Lucius Robinson
Encyclopedia
Lucius Robinson was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 26th Governor of New York from 1877 to 1879.
in Delhi, New York
. Afterwards he studied law in the offices of Erastus Root
and Amasa J. Parker
, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and commenced practice in Catskill, N.Y.
He was District Attorney of Greene County from 1837 to 1840. Then he removed to New York City
and became a member of Tammany Hall
.
He joined the Republican Party when it was founded, and representing this party was a member from Chemung County of the New York State Assembly
in 1860 and 1861.
He was New York State Comptroller
from 1862 to 1865. In 1861, he was elected on the Union ticket nominated by Republicans and War Democrats
. In 1863 he was defeated for re-nomination at the Union state convention, but the nominated candidadte refused to run, and the Republican State Committee put Robinson back on the ticket, and he was re-elected. After the war he joined the Democratic Party again, and was re-nominated for Comptroller on the Democratic ticket, but this time was defeated by the Republican candidate Thomas Hillhouse
. After his defeat he resumed the practice of law. In 1871-72 he was a member of the New York State Constitutional Commission.
He was a director of the Erie Railroad
, and was Acting President of the company while the President Peter H. Watson was travelling about Europe
.
In 1875, he was again elected State Comptroller defeating the Republican candidate, former United States Treasurer Francis E. Spinner
. While serving as Comptroller, he was elected Governor, and was in office from 1877 to 1879, the first governor to serve a three-year term after the amendment to the state constitution in 1874. As governor, he opposed Tammany Hall
vigorously what led the Tammany leader John Kelly
to have himself nominated for Governor by Tammany Hall at the next election in 1879 with the intention to split the Democratic vote, and so defeat Robinson. This happened, and the Republican candidate Alonzo B. Cornell
was elected Governor with less votes than Robinson and Kelly together.
Robinson was a delegate to the 1876 Democratic National Convention
and supported Samuel J. Tilden
for President.
He died from pneumonia
, and was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira.
Life
He graduated from Delaware AcademyDelaware Academy
Delaware Academy is a K-12 school in Delhi, Delaware County, New York, situated northwest of New York City.-19th century:The school was founded in as a military academy in 1819. On April 12th of that year, approval was given for the school to be built. The first entry in the trustee's book was...
in Delhi, New York
Delhi (village), New York
Delhi is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 2,583 at the 2000 census. Delhi is the county seat of Delaware County...
. Afterwards he studied law in the offices of Erastus Root
Erastus Root
Erastus Root was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793 and became a teacher...
and Amasa J. Parker
Amasa J. Parker
Amasa Junius Parker was a U.S. Representative from New York and a justice of the New York Supreme Court.-Early life:...
, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and commenced practice in Catskill, N.Y.
Catskill (town), New York
Catskill is a town in the southeast part of Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 11,775 at the 2010 census. The western part of the town is in the Catskill Park....
He was District Attorney of Greene County from 1837 to 1840. Then he removed to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and became a member of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
.
He joined the Republican Party when it was founded, and representing this party was a member from Chemung County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1860 and 1861.
He was New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
from 1862 to 1865. In 1861, he was elected on the Union ticket nominated by Republicans and War Democrats
War Democrats
War Democrats in American politics of the 1860s were adherents of the Democratic Party who rejected the Copperheads/Peace Democrats who controlled the party...
. In 1863 he was defeated for re-nomination at the Union state convention, but the nominated candidadte refused to run, and the Republican State Committee put Robinson back on the ticket, and he was re-elected. After the war he joined the Democratic Party again, and was re-nominated for Comptroller on the Democratic ticket, but this time was defeated by the Republican candidate Thomas Hillhouse
Thomas Hillhouse (adjutant general)
Thomas Hillhouse was an American farmer, banker and politician.-Life:...
. After his defeat he resumed the practice of law. In 1871-72 he was a member of the New York State Constitutional Commission.
He was a director of the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
, and was Acting President of the company while the President Peter H. Watson was travelling about Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1875, he was again elected State Comptroller defeating the Republican candidate, former United States Treasurer Francis E. Spinner
Francis E. Spinner
Francis Elias Spinner was an American politician from New York. He was Treasurer of the United States from 1861 to 1875...
. While serving as Comptroller, he was elected Governor, and was in office from 1877 to 1879, the first governor to serve a three-year term after the amendment to the state constitution in 1874. As governor, he opposed Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
vigorously what led the Tammany leader John Kelly
John Kelly (U.S. politician)
John Kelly of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858-Career:...
to have himself nominated for Governor by Tammany Hall at the next election in 1879 with the intention to split the Democratic vote, and so defeat Robinson. This happened, and the Republican candidate Alonzo B. Cornell
Alonzo B. Cornell
Alonzo Barton Cornell was a New York politician and businessman who served as 27th Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882.-Early years:...
was elected Governor with less votes than Robinson and Kelly together.
Robinson was a delegate to the 1876 Democratic National Convention
1876 Democratic National Convention
The 1876 Democratic National Convention assembled in St. Louis just nine days after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. The convention opened with three contenders, Bourbon Democrat Samuel J. Tilden of New York, Thomas Hendricks of Indiana and Union General Winfield S. Hancock of...
and supported Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
for President.
He died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, and was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira.
Sources
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A0CE7DF163AE533A25757C2A9659C94609ED7CF Obit in NYT on March 24, 1891
- Google Book The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 374; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/robinson6.html Political Graveyard (giving wrong deathyear)