A. Heaton Robertson | |
|---|---|
 Robertson in a 1908 publication | |
| Member of theConnecticut House of Representatives | |
| In office 1880–1882 | |
| Member of theConnecticut Senate from the 8th district | |
| In office 1885–1886 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abram Heaton Robertson September 24 or(1850-09-25)September 25, 1850 |
| Died | August 6, 1924(1924-08-06) (aged 73) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Relations | John Brownlee Robertson (father) |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Businessman, judge, lawyer, politician |
Abram Heaton Robertson (September 24 or 25, 1850 – August 6, 1924) was an American businessman, judge, lawyer, and politician.
Robertson was born on September 24 or 25, 1850, inNew Haven, Connecticut, to politicianJohn Brownlee Robertson, and Mabel Maria Heaton. In 1872, he graduated fromYale College,[1] where he was a peer of physicistEdward Bouchet, who possibly worked as an attendant for his father.[2] In 1874, he graduated fromColumbia Law School. He received an honorary degree fromTrinity College in 1894.[1]
Robertson began practicing law in 1875. As a businessman, he was director of theNew York, Ontario and Western Railway, theHarlem River and Port Chester Railroad, and the Southern New England Telephone Company, as well as some banks.[1][3]
ADemocrat, Robertson served in theConnecticut House of Representatives from 1880 to 1882, then in theConnecticut State Senate from the 8th district, from 1885 to 1886.[1][4] From 1887 to 1895, he served as judge of theNew Haven Probate Court.[3] He also unsuccessfully ran in the1904 Connecticut gubernatorial election, getting 41.5% of the vote and losing toHenry Roberts.[5]
In the1908 Democratic National Convention, Robertson was unanimously nominated to run on the Democratic ticket in the1908 Connecticut gubernatorial election.[6] He got 43.5% of the vote and lost toGeorge L. Lilley. Also in 1908, he unsuccessfully ran for theConnecticut House of Representatives, getting one vote.[5]
Robertson also unsuccessfully ran in the1905 and the1909 United States Senate election in Connecticut.[3] In the 1909 election, the Assembly choseMorgan Bulkeley instead of him.[7] In his campaigns, he appealed to the working class, calling himself 'Mr. Workingman' in newspaper advertisements.[8]
Robertson was a member of theUniversity Club of New York, among other clubs. He married Graziella Ridgway; they had three children together.[1] He died on August 6, 1924, aged 73, nearPinehurst, North Carolina, of an illness he contracted while travelling to visit his brother, J. Brownlee Robertson Jr.[3]