Felix Robertson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1781-01-11)January 11, 1781 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | July 10, 1865(1865-07-10) (aged 84) |
| Resting place | Nashville City Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation(s) | Physician, politician |
| Spouse | Lydia Waters |
| Children | 5 sons, 2 daughters |
| Parent(s) | James Robertson Charlotte Reeves |
| Relatives | Sterling C. Robertson(cousin) Anne Robertson Johnson Cockrill(aunt) Mark R. Cockrill(cousin) |
Felix Robertson (1781–1865) was an American pioneer, physician andJeffersonian Republican politician. He served twice as theMayor ofNashville, Tennessee from 1818 to 1819 as well as from 1827 to 1829.
Felix Robertson was born on January 11, 1781, at the fortFreeland's Station, which was later commemorated as a neighborhood of Nashville.[1][2] He was born to GeneralJames Robertson and his wife Charlotte Reeves, who had arrived with the first large group of settlers inMiddle Tennessee.[3][4][2] He was the first known white child born in the settlement now called Nashville, while his father is regarded as the "Father of Tennessee" in history books.[3][5]
Robertson studied medicine under the direction ofBenjamin Rush at theUniversity of Pennsylvania, where he received his M.D. degree in 1806.[6][2]
Robertson practiced medicine in Nashville for forty years.[6] He was credited with pioneering the use ofquinine in Tennessee.[7] He served asMayor of Nashville from 1818 to 1819 as well as from 1827–1829.[1][4][8] He later took part inRobertson's Colony with his cousinSterling C. Robertson, but they returned to Tennessee.[1][2] He delivered a speech at the 26th annual meeting of theTennessee Medical Society detailing the early physicians and medical practices in the early settlement of Nashville.[3] He went on to work as a professor of medicine at the formerUniversity of Nashville.[4][5] He served as director of the Medical Society of Tennessee from 1834 through 1840 and again in 1853 for two years.[6] He was a close friend and personal doctor of PresidentAndrew Jackson (1767–1845).[6] He worked on his 1828 presidential campaign.[6]
Robertson married Lydia Waters on October 9, 1808.[1] They had five sons, James Waters, Benjamin, John E. Beck, Felix (died as infant), and Felix Randolph, and two daughters, Elizabeth, Elnora Reeves.[1] He died on July 10, 1865, and he is buried in theNashville City Cemetery.[1][3][5][2] His tombstone is inscribed with the epitaph "First white child born in settlement now called Nashville; Distinguished as a physician; Foremost as citizen."[9]
His son, James Waters Robertson (1812-1836), went to Texas from Louisiana, took part in theSiege of Bexar during the Texas revolution and later served in the Alamo garrison. He died in theBattle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.[10]
His portrait, painted byWashington Bogart Cooper in July 1839, hangs in theTennessee State Museum in Nashville.[3]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee 1818-1819 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee 1827-1829 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
