Lawson Robertson
Encyclopedia
Lawson N. Robertson (September 24, 1883 – January 22, 1951) was born in Aberdeen
, Scotland
, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
He was a member of and trainer for the Irish American Athletic Club
, and competed for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1904 Summer Olympics
in St. Louis
, at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens
, and at the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London
.
he finished sixth. He also participated in the 60 metres competition
where he was eliminated in the first round.
he won the silver medal in the standing high jump event and the bronze medal in the standing long jump competition. In the 100 metres event
he finished fifth and in the pentathlon contest
he finished sixth. He also participated in the 400 metres competition
but did not start in the repechage.
, Robertson won his first round heat with a time of 11.4 seconds to advance to the semifinals. There, he lost a close race to countryman Nathaniel Cartmell
, both clocking at 11.2 seconds and Cartmell winning by about a foot. The loss to Cartmell eliminated Robertson from advancing to the final.
On the same day as his semifinal loss in the 100 meters, Robertson was eliminated in the preliminary heats of the 200 metres
with a second place finish in his heat. His time was 23.0 seconds, 0.2 slower than the winner's. He also participated again in the standing high jump competition
but his result is unknown.
by Martin Sheridan
and John Flanagan at the annual field day of the Second Regiment of the Irish Volunteers. The shot was determined to be a few ounces under weight, so a hole was bored in it and the lead was poured inside to bring the weight to the required mark. Robertson was standing over the ladle when some water dropped into the lead, causing an explosion which burned Robertson's face and neck. "Fortunately he had his eyes close tightly, and they were not injured. The flesh about his eyes and face was burned and the lead burned his clothes." After Robertson was rushed to a doctor, the Irish Whales
of the Irish American Athletic Club
proceeded with the competition, and Martin Sheridan
set a world's record with the very same weight, putting the shot , three and half inches further than the long standing record of fellow Irishman James Mitchell
.
in Amsterdam, Robertson served as the head coach for the U.S. Olympic track and field
team. Reflecting on the controversial 1908 Olympics, Robertson said: "Probably England was not as charitably inclined toward the American champions as she might have been, and it is equally true that the victorious Americans were not as modest as they should have been."
According to his 1910 trading card, Lawson "will go down in athletic history as one of the greatest sprinters of the cinder path."
and Marty Glickman
, the only two Jews on the U.S. track team, led to widespread speculation that U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Avery Brundage
had ordered the move to avoid further embarrassment to Adolf Hitler
should two American Jews win gold medals.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
He was a member of and trainer for the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
, and competed for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
1904 Olympics
In 1904 he won the bronze medal in the standing high jump competition. In the 100 metres eventAthletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres
The men's 100 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the third time the event was held. 11 athletes from 3 nations participated...
he finished sixth. He also participated in the 60 metres competition
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 60 metres
The men's 60 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the second and last time the event was held at the Olympics. 12 athletes from 3 nations participated...
where he was eliminated in the first round.
1906 Intercalated Games
Two years later at the Intercalated GamesIntercalated Games
The Intercalated Olympic Games were to be a series of International Olympic Games half-way between what we now call Games of the Olympiad. This proposed series of games, intercalated in the Olympic Games cycle, was to always be held in Athens, and were to have equal status with the international...
he won the silver medal in the standing high jump event and the bronze medal in the standing long jump competition. In the 100 metres event
Athletics at the 1906 Summer Olympics
At the 1906 Summer Olympics in Athens, 21 events in athletics were contested. Now called the Intercalated Games, the 1906 Games are no longer considered as an official Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee.-Medal summary:...
he finished fifth and in the pentathlon contest
Athletics at the 1906 Summer Olympics
At the 1906 Summer Olympics in Athens, 21 events in athletics were contested. Now called the Intercalated Games, the 1906 Games are no longer considered as an official Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee.-Medal summary:...
he finished sixth. He also participated in the 400 metres competition
Athletics at the 1906 Summer Olympics
At the 1906 Summer Olympics in Athens, 21 events in athletics were contested. Now called the Intercalated Games, the 1906 Games are no longer considered as an official Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee.-Medal summary:...
but did not start in the repechage.
1908 Olympics
In the 100 metres competition at the 1908 OlympicsAthletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres
The men's 100 metres was the shortest of the sprint races at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held over the course of three days...
, Robertson won his first round heat with a time of 11.4 seconds to advance to the semifinals. There, he lost a close race to countryman Nathaniel Cartmell
Nathaniel Cartmell
Nathaniel John Cartmell , also known as Nat and Nate, was an American athlete who won medals at two editions of the Olympic Games...
, both clocking at 11.2 seconds and Cartmell winning by about a foot. The loss to Cartmell eliminated Robertson from advancing to the final.
On the same day as his semifinal loss in the 100 meters, Robertson was eliminated in the preliminary heats of the 200 metres
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metres
The men's 200 metre race was held for the third time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held from July 21, 1908 to July 23, 1908.43 sprinters from 15 nations competed.-Records:...
with a second place finish in his heat. His time was 23.0 seconds, 0.2 slower than the winner's. He also participated again in the standing high jump competition
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's standing high jump
The men's standing high jump was one of six jumping events on the athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme in London. The competition was held on July 23, 1908.23 high jumpers from eleven nations competed.-Records:...
but his result is unknown.
Badly Injured at Celtic Park
On November 28, 1909, Robertson was badly burned in an accident at Celtic Park, in Queens, New York when a ladle of hot lead exploded in his face. Robertson was preparing to pour the molten lead for a 42 pounds (19.05 kg) shot which was to be used in the shot putShot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
by Martin Sheridan
Martin Sheridan
Martin John Sheridan was "one of the greatest athletes [the United States] has ever known" according to his obituary in the New York Times. He was born in Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland and died in St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, New York, the day before his 37th birthday, a very early casualty...
and John Flanagan at the annual field day of the Second Regiment of the Irish Volunteers. The shot was determined to be a few ounces under weight, so a hole was bored in it and the lead was poured inside to bring the weight to the required mark. Robertson was standing over the ladle when some water dropped into the lead, causing an explosion which burned Robertson's face and neck. "Fortunately he had his eyes close tightly, and they were not injured. The flesh about his eyes and face was burned and the lead burned his clothes." After Robertson was rushed to a doctor, the Irish Whales
Irish Whales
The Irish Whales or "The Whales" was a nickname given to a group of Irish and Irish-American athletes who dominated weight-throwing events in the first two decades of the 20th Century...
of the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
proceeded with the competition, and Martin Sheridan
Martin Sheridan
Martin John Sheridan was "one of the greatest athletes [the United States] has ever known" according to his obituary in the New York Times. He was born in Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland and died in St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, New York, the day before his 37th birthday, a very early casualty...
set a world's record with the very same weight, putting the shot , three and half inches further than the long standing record of fellow Irishman James Mitchell
James Mitchell (athlete)
James Sarsfield "Jim" Mitchel was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and, as an athlete, represented the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics. Mitchell competed as a member of the New York Athletic Club at the games, which were held in St Louis, Missouri. In the 56 lb weight throw he won the...
.
1928 Olympics
In 1928, at the Olympic GamesOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Amsterdam, Robertson served as the head coach for the U.S. Olympic track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team. Reflecting on the controversial 1908 Olympics, Robertson said: "Probably England was not as charitably inclined toward the American champions as she might have been, and it is equally true that the victorious Americans were not as modest as they should have been."
According to his 1910 trading card, Lawson "will go down in athletic history as one of the greatest sprinters of the cinder path."
1936 Olympics
Lawson became embroiled in controversy in the 1936 Olympics when his last-minute decision to pull Sam StollerSam Stoller
Sam Stoller was an American sprinter and long jumper who tied the world record in the 60-yard dash in 1936. He is best known for his exclusion from the American 4 × 100 relay team at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, triggering widespread speculation that he and Marty Glickman,...
and Marty Glickman
Marty Glickman
Martin "Marty" Glickman was a Jewish American track and field athlete and sports announcer, born in The Bronx, New York. His parents, Harry and Molly Glickmann, immigrated to the United States from Jassy, Romania....
, the only two Jews on the U.S. track team, led to widespread speculation that U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Avery Brundage
Avery Brundage
Avery Brundage was an American amateur athlete, sports official, art collector, and philanthropist. Brundage competed in the 1912 Olympics and was the US national all-around athlete in 1914, 1916 and 1918...
had ordered the move to avoid further embarrassment to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
should two American Jews win gold medals.