Douglas Robinson Jr. Explained

Douglas Robinson
Birth Date:3 January 1855
Birth Place:Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
Death Place:Amsterdam, New York, U.S.
Children:4, including Theodore and Corinne
Alma Mater:Oxford University
Parents:Douglas Robinson Sr.
Frances Monroe
Relations:Joseph Alsop (grandson)
Stewart Alsop (grandson)

Douglas Robinson Jr. (January 3, 1855 – September 12, 1918) was an American businessman who was married to Corinne Roosevelt, a sister of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and an aunt of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Early life

Robinson was born on January 3, 1855, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Douglas Robinson Sr. (1824–1893) and Frances "Fanny" (née Monroe) Robinson (1824–1906). He had one sister, Harriet Douglas "Missy" Robinson, who married an Englishman,[1] the Rev. Henry Bazeley Wolryche-Whitmore, an heir and nephew of William Wolryche-Whitmore, a Member of Parliament who represented Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton in the House of Commons.[2]

Robinson's maternal grandparents were Elizabeth Mary "Eliza" (née Douglas) Monroe and James Monroe, a Virginian born member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York who was the nephew of 5th President James Monroe.[3] His paternal grandparents were William Rose Robinson and Mary (née Douglas) Robinson, who resided in Scotland.

Robinson graduated from Oxford University in Oxford in 1876.

Career

Robinson was a prominent real estate broker and considered "one of the leading figures in New York City realty transactions." He served as president of Douglas Robinson, Charles S. Brown Company and the Douglas Land Company.

Following the Panic of 1907, he was appointed one of the receivers of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company in 1908.

He served as a board member for numerous banks, insurance companies and other corporations including the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, the Equitable Life Assurance Company and the Astor Trust Company.

Society life

In 1892, Robinson, his wife, and father were all included in Ward McAllister's "Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families, published in The New York Times.[4] [5] Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom.[6] He was a member of the University Club, the Riding Club, the Downtown Club and the Essex Country Club in West Orange, New Jersey.

In 1893, upon the death of his father, he inherited Overlook, his father's 72 acre estate in West Orange, New Jersey.[7] While originally only a weekend home, the Robinsons moved to West Orange and Overlook became their primary residence between the years 1894 and 1911.[7] His wife hosted lavish parties at their home where she was known as "Queen of the Orange Mountain." In 1898, at one such Christmas party for the Roosevelt family, Overlook played host for the first dance and beginning romance between their niece Eleanor and distant cousin Franklin Roosevelt.[7]

Personal life

On April 29, 1882, he married his friend Elliott Roosevelt (socialite)'s sister,[8] Corinne Roosevelt (1861–1933) at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.[9] Corinne was the youngest child of Theodore Roosevelt Sr. and Martha (née Bulloch) Roosevelt. She was the younger sister of Bamie Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt, and Elliott Roosevelt (therefore the aunt of future First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt).[10] The Robinson's had a home in New York City at 147 East 61st Street, as well as a country home, known as Gelston Castle, in Mohawk near Jordanville, New York. Together, they were the parents of four children:[11]

Robinson died suddenly and unexpectedly on September 12, 1918, in Amsterdam, New York.[17] His funeral was held at his "Scottish Castle" country home, Henderson House,[8] followed by a burial at the Robinson Cemetery in Herkimer County, New York.[18] His widow died of pneumonia on February 17, 1933, age 71 in New York City.[19] [20] [21] The bulk of her estate was divided among her three surviving children with smaller bequests made to grandchildren, nephews, friends and institutions. She left all real and personal property she had received from her uncle, Cornelius V. S. Roosevelt to her daughter, Corrine. The household furniture, residue of the property, including $30,000 left to her by another uncle, James King Gracie,[22] was to be shared equally among her children.

Descendants

Through his eldest son Theodore, he was the grandfather of Douglas Robinson (1906–1964),[23] inherited a portrait of Harriet Douglas, sister-in-law of James Monroe, painted by Sir William Beechey.[24]

Through his only daughter Corinne, he was the grandfather of columnists Joseph Wright Alsop V (1910–1989) and Stewart Johonnot Oliver Alsop (1914–1974).[25]

Through his son Monroe, he was the grandfather of Dorothy Douglas Robinson (1917–1995),[26] who married Randolph Appleton Kidder (1913–1996),[27] the son of archaeologist Alfred Vincent Kidder, in 1938.[28] Her husband later served as U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia.[29] [30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Autograph Letter Signed Theodore Roosevelt, to Harriet Douglas Robinson Dear Missy, congratulating her on her engagement to Henry Bazeley Wolryche-Whitmore by Theodore Roosevelt on James Cummins Bookseller . www.jamescumminsbookseller.com . James Cummins Bookseller . 28 June 2018.
  2. Book: The Wroe and Chancellor Families: With Special Attention to the Descendants of Chancellor Wroe (1782-1818) and His Wife, Elizabeth Monroe Chancellor (1793-1872) . 1992 . W.C. Wroe . 568 . 28 June 2018 . en.
  3. Web site: Douglas Robinson, Jr. + Corinne Roosevelt. https://archive.today/20131030093758/http://www.stanford.edu/group/fam/cgi-bin/family/family.php?famid=F6373. dead. 2013-10-30. Stanford.edu.
  4. News: McAllister. Ward. THE ONLY FOUR HUNDRED WARD M'ALLISTER GIVES OUT THE OFFICIAL LIST. HERE ARE THE NAMES, DON'T YOU KNOW, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR GREAT LEADER, YOU UNDER- STAND, AND THEREFORE GENUINE, YOU SEE.. 26 March 2017. The New York Times. 16 February 1892. en.
  5. Book: Patterson . Jerry E. . The First Four Hundred: Mrs. Astor's New York in the Gilded Age . 2000 . Random House Incorporated . 9780847822089 . 217 . 13 June 2018 . en.
  6. Book: Keister. Lisa A.. Getting Rich: America's New Rich and How They Got That Way. 2005. Cambridge University Press. 9780521536677. 36. 20 October 2017. en.
  7. News: Fagan . Joseph . Romance Blossoms for Future President and First Lady in West Orange . 28 June 2018 . TAPinto . June 30, 2013 . en.
  8. Web site: Corinne Roosevelt Robinson . www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org . . 28 June 2018 . en.
  9. News: ROBINSON--ROOSEVELT.; A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH WEDDING AND A BRILLIANT HOUSE RECEPTION.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 30 April 1882.
  10. Brogan, Hugh and Mosley, Charles American Presidential Families October 1993, page 568
  11. News: DANCE FOR MISS ROBINSON Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Robinson Entertain for Debutante Daughter.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 23 December 1904.
  12. News: Times. Special To The New York. NOTABLES MOURN FOR T. D. ROBINSON; Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt, His Cousin, Attends the Funeral Near Herkimer, N.Y. SIMPLE SERVICE AT HOME Burial in Family Cemetery on Estate - Wagon Substituted for a Hearse.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 15 April 1934.
  13. News: MONROE ROBINSON, WAR FINANCE AIDE; Head of Office Here, Cousin ot President's Wife, Is Dead-Good-Will Ambassador . 22 April 2021 . . 9 December 1944.
  14. Book: Downes . Stephen . The Szymanowski Companion . 2016 . Routledge . 9781317014447 . 180 . 28 June 2018 . en.
  15. News: Eben D. Jordan Dead. Senior Member of the Firm of Jordan, Marsh & Co., of Boston. Millionaire, Once A Penniless Boy. Architect of His Own Fortune. Ranked Among Public-Spirited Citizens and Representative Men . . November 16, 1895 . 2015-07-29 .
  16. News: PRESIDENT'S NEPHEW KILLED AT HARVARD; Stewart Douglas Robinson Falls from Sixth-Story Window in Hampden Hall Dormitory. BODY FOUND IN STREET Young Man Complained of Illness to Friends and Had Window Opened to Get Air.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 22 February 1909.
  17. News: DOUGLAS ROBINSON DIES SUDDENLY AT 63. Brother-in-Law of Col. Theodore Roosevelt Stricken with Heart Disease on a Train NOTED AS REALTY OPERATOR Father of State Senator Was Partner of W. H. Wheelock, in Charge of Government Real Estate . 28 June 2018 . . September 13, 1918.
  18. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. (2 volume set), by Scott Wilson, McFarland, Aug 22, 2016
  19. News: MRS. ROBINSON UNCHANGED; Sister of Late President Roosevelt Suffering From Pneumonia.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 17 February 1933.
  20. News: CORINNE ROBINSON DIES AT AGE OF 71 Sister of the Late President Roosevelt Was Widely Known as Poet. LONG ACTIVE IN POLITICS Seconded the Nomination of Wood in 1920 - Served as an Adviser to Coolidge.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 18 February 1933.
  21. News: ROOSEVELT AT BIER OF MRS. ROBINSON; President-EIect and Wife Are Among Mourners for Theodore Roosevelt's Sister 1,000 FRIENDS AT SERVICE Many Notables in Audience at St. Bartholomew's - Dr. George P. T. Sargent Officiates.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. 21 February 1933.
  22. News: LEGACY TO MR. ROOSEVELT; President Inherits $30,000 from James King Gracie. Kermit and Ethel Receive $5,000 Each -- Estate of $500,000 Is Disposed Of, Partly to Charity.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. December 4, 1903. en.
  23. News: THE NEW YORK TIMES.. Special to. ROBINSON ESTATE GOES TO CHILDREN Will of Theodore Roosevelt's Sister Filed at Herkimer Divides Family Heirlooms. CONDITIONAL BEQUESTS Friends, Kin and Institutions to Get Sums If Estate Is Sufficient to Pay Them.. 20 February 2017. The New York Times. March 3, 1933. 13. en.
  24. Web site: Hopson. Caryl. The Garden in the Woods - The Cemetery at Gelston Castle. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Herkimer County Historical Society. 20 February 2017.
  25. Book: Robert W. Merry. Robert W. Merry. Taking on the World: Joseph and Stewart Alsop, Guardians of the American Century. 1997. Penguin Group. 4. 9780140149845.
  26. News: Dorothy Kidder, 78; Helped the Homeless . 28 June 2018 . . September 20, 1995 . en.
  27. News: OBITUARIES Randolph Appleton Kidder . 28 June 2018 . . 8 January 1996.
  28. News: DOROTHY ROBINSON BECOMES ENGAGED; Daughter of Mrs. Elbridge G Chadwick Will Be Married to Randolph Kidder . 28 June 2018 . . September 18, 1937 . en.
  29. News: Envoy to Cambodia Named . 28 June 2018 . . June 17, 1964 . en.
  30. Web site: Randolph Appleton Kidder - People - Department History . history.state.gov . . 28 June 2018 . en.

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