Thomas J. B. Robinson
Encyclopedia
Thomas John Bright Robinson (August 12, 1868 - January 27, 1958) was a Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 3rd congressional district
. Elected in an era in which Republicans held every Iowa U.S. House seat, Robinson served five terms before losing in the 1932 general election.
Born in New Diggings, Wisconsin
, Robinson moved with his parents to Hampton, Iowa
, in 1870. He attended the public schools and the Hampton High School. A farmer, Robinson also served as president of the Citizens National Bank of Hampton from 1907 to 1923, as a member of the Hampton Board of Education, and on the board of trustees of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa
.
Robinson was elected to one four-year term in the Iowa Senate
in 1912, and served as delegate to many Republican State conventions.
In 1922, Robinson was elected as a Republican
to represent Iowa's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House. During the 1920s, no Democrat was elected to any of Iowa's U.S. House seats, and every incumbent Republican congressman from Iowa who was renominated by their party was elected in the November general election. However, in 1932, the Roosevelt landslide carried many Democrats into the House, and the former Republican majority lost 101 seats. Running for a sixth consecutive term, Robinson lost a close race to Albert C. Willford
. Robinson had served in the Sixty-eighth
and the four succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1923 to March 3, 1933.
Returning to Iowa, Robinson engaged in the real estate and investment business. He died in Hampton on January 27, 1958, and was interred in Hampton Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that currently covers an area from Des Moines to the western outskirts of the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Metropolitan Area to the western outskirts of the Cedar Rapids area and to Lucas and Monroe counties .The...
. Elected in an era in which Republicans held every Iowa U.S. House seat, Robinson served five terms before losing in the 1932 general election.
Born in New Diggings, Wisconsin
New Diggings, Wisconsin
New Diggings is a town in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 473 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Etna and Jenkinsville are located in the town.-Geography:...
, Robinson moved with his parents to Hampton, Iowa
Hampton, Iowa
Hampton is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
, in 1870. He attended the public schools and the Hampton High School. A farmer, Robinson also served as president of the Citizens National Bank of Hampton from 1907 to 1923, as a member of the Hampton Board of Education, and on the board of trustees of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States, adjacent to the city of Lisbon. The city's population was 3,390 when the 2000 census figures were released, but that number was later revised to 3,808 because the Census Bureau had incorrectly reported that 418 residents of a Cornell...
.
Robinson was elected to one four-year term in the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
in 1912, and served as delegate to many Republican State conventions.
In 1922, Robinson was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to represent Iowa's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House. During the 1920s, no Democrat was elected to any of Iowa's U.S. House seats, and every incumbent Republican congressman from Iowa who was renominated by their party was elected in the November general election. However, in 1932, the Roosevelt landslide carried many Democrats into the House, and the former Republican majority lost 101 seats. Running for a sixth consecutive term, Robinson lost a close race to Albert C. Willford
Albert C. Willford
Albert Clinton Willford was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district and supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal." He was elected in 1932, defeated in 1934, and failed to regain his seat in 1936.Born in Vinton, Iowa, Willford attended the country and town...
. Robinson had served in the Sixty-eighth
68th United States Congress
The Sixty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1923 to March 4, 1925, during the last months of...
and the four succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1923 to March 3, 1933.
Returning to Iowa, Robinson engaged in the real estate and investment business. He died in Hampton on January 27, 1958, and was interred in Hampton Cemetery.