Robert Roosevelt Explained

Image Name:Robert Roosevelt - Brady-Handy.jpg
Office:Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee
Term Start:July 21, 1892
Term End:June 26, 1896
Predecessor:Charles J. Canda
Successor:William P. St. John
Office2:United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
Term Start2:August 10, 1888
Term End2:May 17, 1889
Predecessor2:Isaac Bell, Jr.
Successor2:Samuel R. Thayer
State1:New York
District1:4th
Term Start1:March 4, 1871
Term End1:March 3, 1873
Preceded1:John Fox
Succeeded1:Archibald M. Bliss
Birth Name:Robert Barnhill Roosevelt
Birth Date:7 August 1829
Birth Place:New York City, New York
Death Place:Sayville, New York
Resting Place:Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn
Party:Democratic
Spouse:
  • Elizabeth Ellis
  • Marion Theresa O'Shea
Children:Margaret, John, Robert Jr., Kenyon, Maude, and Granville
Parents:
Relations:Roosevelt family
Signature:Appletons' Roosevelt Nicholas J - Robert Barnwell signature.jpg

Robert Barnhill Roosevelt,[1] also known as Robert Barnwell Roosevelt (August 7, 1829 – June 14, 1906), was a sportsman, author, and politician who served as a United States representative from New York (1871–1873) and as Minister to the Hague (1888–1889).[2] He was also a member of the Roosevelt family and an uncle of US President Theodore Roosevelt.

Early life

Robert Roosevelt was born in New York City[3] to businessman Cornelius Van Schaack "C.V.S." Roosevelt and Margaret Barnhill. He had three elder brothers, Silas, James, and Cornelius Jr., and two younger brothers, Theodore and William. He was an uncle of President Theodore "T.R." Roosevelt, Jr. and grand-uncle of First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. As an Oyster Bay Roosevelt, and through his ancestor Cornelius Van Schaack, Jr., he was a descendant of the Dutch American Schuyler family.[4] [5]

Career

Roosevelt studied law and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1850. He commenced practice in New York City.[2] During the Civil War he was an active Democrat, and a founder of the Allotment Commission and the Loyal National League.[6]

His first experience in politics was in the organization of the Citizens' Association at the time of the Tweed Ring administration in New York city. For several years, he edited the organ of the Citizens' Association, the New York Citizen, at first with Charles G. Halpine, and after Halpine's death by himself. He was a founder of the Committee of Seventy, and first vice-president of the Reform Club.

Roosevelt was elected as a Democrat to the 42nd Congress (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873).[2] Although the pressure of anti-Tammany Democratic organizations forced Tammany Hall to approve his nomination, he denounced its measures, and did much to contribute to the breaking up of the latter organization.[7]

Roosevelt served as trustee representing the city of New York for the New York and Brooklyn Bridge from 1879 to 1882.[2] He was instrumental in establishing paid fire and health departments in New York City. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen of New York City.

He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as Minister to The Hague, serving from August 10, 1888, to May 17, 1889. He was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee in 1892.[2] In 1893, President Cleveland appointed him the secretary of the embassy in London in exchange for a $10,000 campaign contribution.[8]

Conservation

Roosevelt was an early angler and conservationist. He organized several clubs to restrain the indiscriminate slaughter of game. He is credited with influencing his nephew, Theodore Roosevelt, to become a conservationist. He founded the New York State Fishery Commission in 1867, and was appointed one of the three fish commissioners. He served as fish commissioner for 20 years, 1868–1888,[2] without a salary. The reports of the commission were prepared chiefly by him, and led to the appointment of similar commissions in other states.

For many years, he served as president of the Fish Culture Association, of an association for the protection of game, of the New York Sportsman's Club, and of the International Association for the Protection of Game. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As a member of the U.S. Congress, he originated the bill to create the United States Fish Commission.[9]

Writer

Roosevelt was a popular author and a friend of writers such as Oscar Wilde.[10] He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Barnwell or Ira Zell.[11] He edited Political Works of Charles G. Halpine, supplying a memoir (1869).

Robert's nephew Theodore Jr. credited him with being the first to scribe the "Br'er Rabbit" stories (which had been passed down orally by slaves), publishing them in Harper's, where they fell flat. This was a good many years before Joel Chandler Harris published the stories in The Atlanta Journal in 1879.

Personal life

Roosevelt was first married to Elizabeth Ellis (1829–1887), a descendant of the Livingston family who was the daughter of John French Ellis (1794–1853) and Eliza Glen Thorn (1796–1855). Together, they were the parents of:[12]

After the death of his first wife, he married his mistress, Irish immigrant Marion Theresa "Minnie" O'Shea. Although his children with Minnie were his biological children, they had been born prior to his wedding to Minnie and were known as his stepchildren. They had been listed as having a father named "Robert Francis Fortescue", and maintained the Fortescue name throughout their lives.[16] Together with Minnie, he was the father of:[17]

Death and burial

Roosevelt died in Sayville, Suffolk County, N.Y., on June 14, 1906, while his nephew was serving as President of the United States.[22] His remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.[2] [23] His large estate was left to his family,[24] [25]

Published works

Notes and References

  1. Book: Miller, Nathan. Theodore Roosevelt: A Life. registration. 1992. Morrow . 9780688067847 .
  2. Web site: ROOSEVELT, Robert Barnwell - Biographical Information. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 23 August 2017.
  3. Roosevelt, Robert Barnwell.
  4. Taylor, Robert Lewis. Along The Way: Two Paths From One Ancestry Xlibris Corporation, 2014
  5. Brogan, Hugh and Mosley, Charles American Presidential Families October 1993, page 568
  6. Cabell . Isa Carrington . Roosevelt, Nicholas I.. 1900.
  7. Roosevelt, Robert Barnwell. 1905.
  8. News: Secretary of Embassy . . November 1, 1893 . . 4 . 50 . 261 . Newspapers.com.
  9. Roosevelt, Robert Barnwell . 1920.
  10. Book: Mitchinson. John. Lloyd. John. The Book of General Ignorance. 2007. Crown/Archetype. 9780307405517. 23 August 2017. en.
  11. Kohrman . Robert . Checklist of Angling Pseudonyms . The American Fly Fisher . 13 . 4 . Summer 1987 . American Museum of Fly Fishing . Manchester, VT . 22–26.
  12. Book: Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York. The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York: History, Customs, Record of Events, Constitution, Certain Genealogies, and Other Matters of Interest. V. 1-. 1905. 135. 20 August 2017. en.
  13. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1879/02/20/81745838.pdf "The Vance–Roosevelt Wedding; Mr. John E. Roosevelt United to Miss Nannie Mitchell Vance—Some of the Presents"
  14. RootsWeb: Robert Roosevelt
  15. Web site: Kuhn. Robert D.. National Register of Historic Places Registration: John Ellis Roosevelt Estate. September 1987. 2010-02-20. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121010192442/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=8939. 2012-10-10.
  16. Book: Robenalt, James David. The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage during the Great War. registration. 2009. Macmillan. 9780230609648 .
  17. Web site: Spinzia. Raymond E.. Those Other Roosevelts: The Fortescues. spinzialongislandestates.com. The Oyster Bay Historical Society’s The Freeholder. 20 August 2017. July 2010.
  18. News: KENYON FORTESCUE, RETIRED ATTORNEY; Long Had Been Associated With Firm of Roosevelt & Kobbe. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 17 March 1939.
  19. News: Major G.R. Fortescue Now Seriously Ill; Worry Over Wife's Plight Causes Relapse. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 11 January 1932.
  20. The New York Times, July 8, 1909, p. 4.
  21. News: DRUG KILLS E.W.S. PICKHARDT; Took Overdose for Insomnia -- Married Stepdaughter of R.B. Roosevelt.. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 8 July 1909.
  22. News: THE PRESIDENT'S UNCLE, R.B. ROOSEVELT, DEAD; He Was an Ardent Democrat, but Didn't Criticise His Nephew. WORKED HARD IN MANY WAYS Financier, Writer, Friend of Animals, ex-Minister to the Netherlands, and Popular Speaker.. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 15 June 1906.
  23. News: Times. Special To The New York. ROOSEVELT CANNOT ATTEND.; Will Be Absent from His Uncle's Funeral To-morrow, He Says.. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 17 June 1906.
  24. News: ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT'S WILL; Testator's Three Children Inherit Most of the Large Estate.. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 20 June 1906.
  25. News: R.B. ROOSEVELT'S ESTATE.; Uncle of the President Left Property Valued at $674,901.. 20 August 2017. The New York Times. 30 August 1906.
  26. https://www.fisch-hitparade.de/magazine/fish-hatching-and-fish-catching/ Fish Hatching and Fish Catching (1879)