Robert Roosevelt
Encyclopedia
Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, also known as Robert Barnhill Roosevelt (August 7, 1829 – June 14, 1906), was a sportsman, author and United States Congress
man from New York (1871–1873).
. Roosevelt completed studied law and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1850. He commenced practice in New York City. During the Civil War
he was an active Democrat
, and a founder of the Allotment Commission and the Loyal National League.
Roosevelt was elected as a Democrat to the 42nd Congress (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873). Although the pressure of anti-Tammany Democratic organizations forced Tammany Hall
to approve his nomination, he denounced its measures, and did much to contribution to the breaking up of the latter organization.
He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland
as Minister to The Hague
, serving from 1888 to 1890. He was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee
in 1892. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen of New York City. He served as trustee representing the city of New York for the New York and Brooklyn Bridge from 1879 to 1882. He was instrumental in establishing paid fire and health departments in New York City.
. He organized several clubs to restrain the indiscriminate slaughter of game. He is credited with influencing his nephew, Theodore Roosevelt, to become a conservationist. He founded the New York State Fishery Commission in 1867, and was appointed one of the three fish commissioners. He served as fish commissioner for 20 years, 1868–1888, without a salary. The reports of the commission were prepared chiefly by him, and led to the appointment of similar commissions in other states. For many years, he served as president of the Fish Culture Association, of an association for the protection of game, of the New York Sportsman's Club, and of the International Association for the Protection of Game. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. As a member of the U.S. Congress, he originated the bill to create the United States Fish Commission
.
. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym
Barnwell or Ira Zell. His books include:
He edited Political Works of Charles G. Halpine, supplying a memoir (1869).
Theodore Roosevelt, in his biography, credits Robert with being the first to scribe the "Br'er Rabbit" stories (which had been passed down orally by slaves), "publishing them in Harper's
, where they fell flat. This was a good many years before a genius arose who, in 'Uncle Remus
,' made the stories immortal."
Roosevelt died in Sayville, Suffolk County, N.Y., on June 14, 1906. His remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery
in Brooklyn
.
(1794–1871) and his mother was Margaret Barnhill (1799–1861). He was also the nephew of James I. Roosevelt
. He was the brother of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.
, the uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt
and the great-uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt
.
Roosevelt was to father many children. Some children were born from his marriage and others were born from his relationship with a long-term mistress. After the death of his first wife, he married his mistress. The offspring of his second wife were recognized as his stepsons.
First wife. The three children born to Elizabeth Ellis Roosevelt were Margaret Barnhill Roosevelt, John Ellis Roosevelt, and Robert Roosevelt Jr.. He purchased the Meadowcroft property at Sayville, New York
in 1873 and it was later developed by his son as the John Ellis Roosevelt Estate
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1987.
Second wife. The two children born out of wedlock to Minnie O'Shea Fortescue were Kenyon Fortescue and Granville Roland Fortescue
.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man from New York (1871–1873).
Biography
He was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Roosevelt completed studied law and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1850. He commenced practice in New York City. During the 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...
he was an active Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and a founder of the Allotment Commission and the Loyal National League.
Politics
His first experience in politics was in the organization of the Citizens' Association at the time of the Tweed Ring administration in New York city. For several years, he edited the organ of the Citizens' Association, the New York Citizen, at first with Charles G. Halpine, and after Halpine's death by himself. He was a founder of the Committee of Seventy, and first vice-president of the Reform Club.Roosevelt was elected as a Democrat to the 42nd Congress (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873). Although the pressure of anti-Tammany Democratic organizations forced Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
to approve his nomination, he denounced its measures, and did much to contribution to the breaking up of the latter organization.
He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
as Minister to The Hague
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
The United States diplomatic mission to the Netherlands consists of the embassy located in The Hague and a consular office located in Amsterdam.In 1782, John Adams was appointed America's first Minister Plenipotentiary to Holland...
, serving from 1888 to 1890. He was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
in 1892. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen of New York City. He served as trustee representing the city of New York for the New York and Brooklyn Bridge from 1879 to 1882. He was instrumental in establishing paid fire and health departments in New York City.
Conservationist
Roosevelt was an early angler and conservationistConservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
. He organized several clubs to restrain the indiscriminate slaughter of game. He is credited with influencing his nephew, Theodore Roosevelt, to become a conservationist. He founded the New York State Fishery Commission in 1867, and was appointed one of the three fish commissioners. He served as fish commissioner for 20 years, 1868–1888, without a salary. The reports of the commission were prepared chiefly by him, and led to the appointment of similar commissions in other states. For many years, he served as president of the Fish Culture Association, of an association for the protection of game, of the New York Sportsman's Club, and of the International Association for the Protection of Game. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. As a member of the U.S. Congress, he originated the bill to create the United States Fish Commission
United States Fish Commission
The United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries was established on February 9, 1871 , as an independent commission with a mandate to investigate the causes for the decrease of commercial fish and aquatic animals in U.S...
.
Writer
Roosevelt was a popular author and a friend of such writers such as Oscar WildeOscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Barnwell or Ira Zell. His books include:
- Superior Fishing; or The Striped Bass, Trout, Black Bass and Bluefish of the Northern States.
- Game Fish of the Northern States and British Provinces.
- Game Birds of the North (1866)
- Superior Fishing (1866)
- Florida and the Game Water Birds (1868)
- Five Acres Too Much, a satire provoked by Edmund Morris's Ten Acres Enough (1869)
- Progressive Petticoats, a satire on female physicians (1871)
He edited Political Works of Charles G. Halpine, supplying a memoir (1869).
Theodore Roosevelt, in his biography, credits Robert with being the first to scribe the "Br'er Rabbit" stories (which had been passed down orally by slaves), "publishing them in Harper's
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, where they fell flat. This was a good many years before a genius arose who, in 'Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus is a fictional character, the title character and fictional narrator of a collection of African American folktales adapted and compiled by Joel Chandler Harris, published in book form in 1881...
,' made the stories immortal."
Roosevelt died in Sayville, Suffolk County, N.Y., on June 14, 1906. His remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Family
Robert Roosevelt's father was Cornelius RooseveltCornelius Roosevelt
Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt was an American businessman from New York City and a member of the Roosevelt family.-Biography:...
(1794–1871) and his mother was Margaret Barnhill (1799–1861). He was also the nephew of James I. Roosevelt
James I. Roosevelt
James John Roosevelt, known as James I., was an American politician, jurist, businessman, and member of the Roosevelt family. He was the granduncle of U.S...
. He was the brother of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.
Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.
Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. was the father of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the paternal grandfather of American first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. He was the son of Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt and Margaret Barnhill...
, the uncle of President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and the great-uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
.
Roosevelt was to father many children. Some children were born from his marriage and others were born from his relationship with a long-term mistress. After the death of his first wife, he married his mistress. The offspring of his second wife were recognized as his stepsons.
First wife. The three children born to Elizabeth Ellis Roosevelt were Margaret Barnhill Roosevelt, John Ellis Roosevelt, and Robert Roosevelt Jr.. He purchased the Meadowcroft property at Sayville, New York
Sayville, New York
Sayville is a hamlet and CDP in Suffolk County, New York, . Located on the south shore of Long Island in the Town of Islip, the population of the CDP was 16,735 at the time of the 2000 census.-History:...
in 1873 and it was later developed by his son as the John Ellis Roosevelt Estate
John Ellis Roosevelt Estate
John Ellis Roosevelt Estate, also known as Meadowcroft, is a historic estate located at Sayville in Suffolk County, New York. The main house, roughly "L" shaped, is composed of two distinct parts: the original farmhouse, built about 1850, and now the rear of the house; and the larger, more formal...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1987.
- In 1879, John Roosevelt married Nannie Mitchell Vance, daughter of Hon. Samuel B. H. VanceSamuel B. H. VanceSamuel B. H. Vance, as a Republican President of the New York City Board of Aldermen in 1873-74, briefly became Acting Mayor of New York City between the death of the elected Mayor William Havemeyer on November 30, 1874 and the inauguration of his elected successor, William H...
, at the Collegiate Dutch Reformed Church, Fifth-avenue and Forty-eighth street, in New York City. Vance, who was active in New York State Republican politics, was a manufacturer who served as Acting Mayor of New York CityMayor of New York CityThe Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
for the month of December 1874.
Second wife. The two children born out of wedlock to Minnie O'Shea Fortescue were Kenyon Fortescue and Granville Roland Fortescue
Granville Roland Fortescue
Granville Roland Fortescue was an American soldier, a Rough Rider serving with his cousin, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in Cuba, a presidential aide in the first Roosevelt administration and later, a journalist and war correspondent for the London Standard during the Rif War in 1920 Spanish Morocco...
.
- Kenyon was destined for a career as an attorney.
- Major Granville Roland "Rolly" FortescueGranville Roland FortescueGranville Roland Fortescue was an American soldier, a Rough Rider serving with his cousin, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in Cuba, a presidential aide in the first Roosevelt administration and later, a journalist and war correspondent for the London Standard during the Rif War in 1920 Spanish Morocco...
married Grace Hubbard Fortescue (née Grace Hubbard Bell), who became a defendant in the notorious 1932 murder trial known as the "Massie Affair".