James L. Robinson
Encyclopedia
James Lowry Robinson was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of North Carolina
; he served as lieutenant governor of the state for four years and as acting Governor of North Carolina
for one month in 1883.
Robinson was born and raised in Franklin, North Carolina
; he served in the North Carolina militia during the American Civil War
and was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines
. Robinson left the military in 1863 and opened a general store in Macon County
.
Robinson was first elected to public office in 1868, when he was chosen to represent macon County in the North Carolina House of Representatives
. He served there until 1875, the last three years as House Speaker. Robinson then moved up to the state senate, where he served three terms between 1876 and 1880, including one as Senate President Pro Tempore
.
Robinson became lieutenant governor
in 1881, on the Democratic ticket with Thomas Jordan Jarvis
. Robinson served as acting Governor of North Carolina
for four weeks in September 1883 when Governor Jarvis left the state for an extended period to attend an exhibition. The most notable events of his administration were two official pardons granted to prisoners, one to a dying Cherokee
man, and one to a murderer who Robinson judged acted in self-defense. Robinson resigned from the office of Lieutenant Governor on 10/31/1884 in order to be a candidate for the state house [North Carolina Government, 1979 version, p. 425; also New York Times, 12/12/1884]. He was elected to the state house from Macon County and served in the legislature of 1885 [North Carolina Government, 1979 version, p. 465].
After his term in the state house, Robinson suffered from financial difficulties. The Raleigh News and Observer reported on 6/11/1887 that Robinson was deathly ill and was being treated by a doctor from Asheville. Robinson died later in the year, according to a list of North Carolinians who died in 1887 listed in the Fayetteville Observer on 1/19/1888.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
; he served as lieutenant governor of the state for four years and as acting Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
for one month in 1883.
Robinson was born and raised in Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,490 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail friendly destination...
; he served in the North Carolina militia during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
. Robinson left the military in 1863 and opened a general store in Macon County
Macon County, North Carolina
- Geographic features :Of the in Macon County, are federal lands that lie within the Nantahala National Forest and are administered by the United States Forest Service. Of the of USFS land, lie in the Highlands Ranger District and the remaining lie in the Wayah Ranger District...
.
Robinson was first elected to public office in 1868, when he was chosen to represent macon County in the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
. He served there until 1875, the last three years as House Speaker. Robinson then moved up to the state senate, where he served three terms between 1876 and 1880, including one as Senate President Pro Tempore
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...
.
Robinson became lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
in 1881, on the Democratic ticket with Thomas Jordan Jarvis
Thomas Jordan Jarvis
Thomas Jordan Jarvis was the 44th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1879 to 1885. Jarvis later served as a U.S. Senator from 1894 to 1895....
. Robinson served as acting Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
for four weeks in September 1883 when Governor Jarvis left the state for an extended period to attend an exhibition. The most notable events of his administration were two official pardons granted to prisoners, one to a dying Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
man, and one to a murderer who Robinson judged acted in self-defense. Robinson resigned from the office of Lieutenant Governor on 10/31/1884 in order to be a candidate for the state house [North Carolina Government, 1979 version, p. 425; also New York Times, 12/12/1884]. He was elected to the state house from Macon County and served in the legislature of 1885 [North Carolina Government, 1979 version, p. 465].
After his term in the state house, Robinson suffered from financial difficulties. The Raleigh News and Observer reported on 6/11/1887 that Robinson was deathly ill and was being treated by a doctor from Asheville. Robinson died later in the year, according to a list of North Carolinians who died in 1887 listed in the Fayetteville Observer on 1/19/1888.