Robert P. Robinson

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Robert P. Robinson
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = Governor of Delaware
term_start = January 20 1925
term_end = January 15 1929
predecessor = William D. Denney
successor = C. Douglass Buck
birth_date = birth date|1869|3|28|mf=y
birth_place = Wilmington, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1939|3|4|1869|3|28
death_place = Wilmington, Delaware
spouse = Margaret Fouraker
party = Republican
residence = Wilmington, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation = banker
profession =
religion = Presbyterian

Robert Pyle Robinson (March 28 1869 – March 4 1939) was an American banker and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party who served as Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Robinson was born March 28 1869 at “Robinhurst,” now Alban Park, in Wilmington, Delaware, son of Robert L. & Frances Delaplaine Robinson. He married Margaret Fouraker in 1905 and they had three children, Mary Frances, Robert Jr. and Frances Robinson Parsons. They were members of the Hanover Presbyterian Church in Wilmington.

Governor of Delaware

Robinson began his career with the Central National Bank, becoming the president of the bank in 1916. He first was exposed to politics when he worked as personal secretary to Delaware U.S. Representative L. Heisler Ball from 1902 until 1903. In 1914 he lost in a close contest for Delaware's Insurance Commissioner, by only 98 votes. Ten years later, in 1924, he was a compromise choice to be the Republican candidate for Governor of Delaware and was elected, defeating Joseph Bancroft, the Democratic Party candidate. He served one term as Governor from January 20 1925 until January 15 1929.

During his tenure, the major issues facing state government were related to secondary education and highway construction. With the passage of the controversial School Codes of 1919 and 1921, Delaware was committed to an aggressive program of school construction. Pierre S. du Pont had agreed get the process started and provided the massive financial support from his own funds. However, that could not continue forever, and yet the General Assembly refused to levy additional taxes. Fortunately the new income tax and corporate franchise tax were capable of producing the revenue needed, but it was suspected everyone was not filing as they should have been. To remedy the situation Robinson appointed du Pont himself to be the State Tax Commissioner. Du Pont quickly modernized the office, increased the revenue from the income tax, and assured the continuation of the school building program.

Robinson was also a proponent of the organization of the State Board of Charities, and he supported a modernized pension system for needy mothers. It was increasingly clear that reform was needed in what is now known as the social services, and legislation was introduced to replace the county “almshouses” with a state welfare home. The bill failed to pass, but Florence M. Hanby, who was the first woman elected to the General Assembly, introduced the “Hope Farm Bill” into this session, and it provided funding for the Anti-Tuberculosis Hospital at Hope Farm. Robinson also appointed the first female state Secretary of State in the United States, Fannie Harrington.

Following his term as Governor, Robinson returned to the presidency of the Central National bank in Wilmington.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly
"(sessions while Governor)"
-!Year!Assembly!!Senate Majority!President
"pro tempore"!!House Majority!Speaker
-
1925-1926
103rd|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |William C. Truitt|
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |Henry C. Downward
-
1927-1928
104th|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |William F. Allen|
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |William Wintrup
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Death and legacy

Robinson died on March 4 1939 at Wilmington, Delaware and is buried there, at the Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery.

Although never a farmer, in 1922 he became Grand Master of the State Grange. The 3-F’s were the way he described his favorite activities: family, farming, and fishing. He was known to disappear from his desk in favor of a local pond. “Competent and diligent, he displayed a certain boyishness and shyness all his life.” [cite book |title = History of Delaware Through its Governors |last= Martin |first= Roger A. |year= 1984 |id=]

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" | Public Offices
-! Office! Type! Location! Elected! Term began! Term ended! notes
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover
1924
January 20 1925
January 15 1929|
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
-!Year!Office!!Subject!Party!Votes!%!!Opponent!Party!Votes!%
-
1924
Governor|
Party shading/Republican |Robert P. Robinson
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |53,046
Party shading/Republican |60%|
Party shading/Democratic |Joseph Bancroft
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |34,830
Party shading/Democratic |39%
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Notes

References

*cite book |title = Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend, Jr. |last= Carter |first= Richard B. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= The Delaware Heritage Press |location= Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year= 2001 |id= ISBN 0-924117-20-6
*cite book |title = Democracy in Delaware |last= Hoffecker |first= Carol E. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Cedar Tree Books |location= Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year= 2004 |id= ISBN 1-892142-23-6
*cite book |title = History of Delaware Through its Governors |last= Martin |first= Roger A. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= McClafferty Press |location= Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year= 1984 |id=
*cite book |title = Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978|last= Sobel |first= Robert |coauthors= J. Racino |publisher=Greenwood Press |location= Westport, CT |year=1988 |id=ISBN 0-930466-00-4

=

* [http://www.state.de.us/research/Tour/information/Governors/govs-35.shtml Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery ] "Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover."

External links

* [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov4.htm#robin Delaware’s Governors ]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7503293 Find a Grave ]
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=ff7b224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association ]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/robinson7.html#RKD0HZDGD Political Graveyard ]

Places with more information

* [http://www.hsd.org/ Historical Society of Delaware ] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware [phone]
* [http://www.lib.udel.edu/ University of Delaware Library ] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware [phone]