Theodore Douglas Robinson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Robinson in 1924 | |
| Assistant Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office November 11, 1924 – March 4, 1929 | |
| President | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Theodore Roosevelt III |
| Succeeded by | Ernest L. Jahncke |
| New York State Senate | |
| In office January 1, 1921 – December 31, 1924 | |
| Preceded by | Burt Z. Kasson |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Keck |
| In office January 1, 1917 – December 31, 1918 | |
| Preceded by | Franklin W. Cristman |
| Succeeded by | James W. Yelverton |
| New York State Assembly | |
| In office January 1, 1912 – December 31, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Judson Bridenbecker |
| Succeeded by | E. Bert Pullman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Theodore Douglas Robinson (1883-04-28)April 28, 1883 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 10, 1934(1934-04-10) (aged 50) Jordanville, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Bull Moose Party (1912) Republican (1917–1929) |
| Spouse | Helen Rebecca Roosevelt (m. 1904) |
| Relations | SeeRoosevelt family |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Douglas Robinson Jr. Corinne Roosevelt |
| Education | St. Paul's School |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (1904) |
Theodore Douglas Robinson (April 28, 1883 – April 10, 1934) was an American politician fromNew York who served as theAssistant Secretary of the Navy from November 1924 to 1929. He was a member of theRoosevelt family through his mother and was the eldest nephew of PresidentTheodore Roosevelt. As anOyster Bay Roosevelt, Theodore was a descendant of theSchuyler family.[1][2]
Theodore Douglas Robinson was born on April 28, 1883, inNew York City toDouglas Robinson Jr.[3] andCorinne Roosevelt. He attendedSt. Paul's School inConcord, New Hampshire and graduated fromHarvard University in 1904.[4]
His father was a real estate dealer who was president of Douglas Robinson Company, Charles S. Brown Company, and the Douglas Land Company,[5] trustee of theAtlantic Mutual Insurance Company, director of theEquitable Life Insurance Society and the Astor Trust Company. He had three younger siblings:Corinne, Monroe, and Stewart.[3]
His maternal grandparents wereTheodore "Thee" Roosevelt Sr., a businessman/philanthropist, andMartha Stewart "Mittie" Bulloch, a socialite. His paternal grandparents wereDouglas Robinson Sr. and Frances Monroe, who was a grandniece of PresidentJames Monroe.[4]
In 1910, he first ran for theNew York State Legislature, but was defeated in the primaries byCharles S. Millington. He ran again in 1912, and was elected to the135th Legislature, serving in theNew York State Assembly.[4]
In 1912, Robinson was elected chairman of his uncle Theodore'sProgressive "Bull Moose" Party in the State of New York, and served until 1914.[4]
From 1917 until 1918, he was aRepublican member of theNew York State Senate in1917 and1918 (both 32nd D.). Also in 1918, he was campaign manager for thenAttorney General of New YorkMerton E. Lewis's bid for the Republican nomination for governor against incumbent GovernorCharles S. Whitman. Lewis lost the nomination to Whitman, who lost his reelection campaign toAl Smith.[6]
Later in 1918, he declined renomination and enlisted in theUnited States Army, becoming an officer atCamp Zachary Taylor, a training camp inLouisville, Kentucky.[3][7]
He returned to the New York State Senate and served again from 1921 to 1924, sitting in the144th,145th,146th and147th New York State Legislatures, all four with the 35th district. During his time with the New York State Senate, he introduced a number of bills focusing on stray cats, census of men and materials, and revocation of the New York branch of theGerman American Alliance.[4] In 1921, along with AssemblymanJoseph Steinberg, he led an investigation intoJohn Francis Hylan, the thenMayor of New York City.[4]
In 1924, he was appointedAssistant Secretary of the Navy byCalvin Coolidge, taking the reins from his cousin,Theodore Roosevelt III. He served from November 1924 to 1929,[8][9] and during his term changed theNavy's slogan from "Join the Navy and See the World" to "Join the Navy and Show the World."[10][4]
In 1904, he married his sixth cousin Helen Rebecca Roosevelt, daughter ofJames "Rosey" Roosevelt Roosevelt and Helen Schermerhorn Astor from theAstor family. Rosey was the half-brother of PresidentFranklin Delano Roosevelt.[11] Together they had:
Robinson lived inHerkimer County, New York, where his family had an estate since 1725 called "Henderson House". He died ofpneumonia on April 10, 1934,[11] after being ill for only a few days.[4] His funeral was at the family estate,[22] Hispallbearers were Edmund B. Rogers, Franklin B. Lord, G.Palen Snow, Elbridge G. Chadwick, Wendell Blagden, Warren Motley, John Cutter, and James Hackson. The funeral was attended byFirst LadyEleanor Roosevelt, Col.Theodore Roosevelt andEleanor Alexander Roosevelt, Mr. and Mrs.Kermit Roosevelt,Warren D. Robbins,Courtland Nichols, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip McKim Garrison, and Mr. and Mrs.Trubeee Davison, and SenatorsHenry I. Patrie,Walter W. Stokes, andHenry D. Williams.[23]
He was a member of theMasons and theElks as well as theRacquet and Tennis Club,Harvard Club,Union League, Republican Club,Knickerbocker Club,The Brook, Downtown Association of New York City,Meadow Brook Golf Club,Piping Rock Club,National Golf Links of America,Fort Orange Club of Albany,Fort Schuyler Club,Yahnundasis Golf Club of Utica, and theMohawk Valley Country Club.[4]
Charles S. Whitman, 78, former governor of New York, died tonight.
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Assembly Herkimer County District 1912–1913 | Succeeded by |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 32nd District 1917–1918 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 35th District 1921–1924 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1924–1929 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
