John H. Robinson, Sr. (1857 – December 6, 1932)[1] was an American attorney, politician and educator. A Republican, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1887 to 1888.
Early life and education
editRobinson born in 1857 in Gloucester County, Virginia.[1][2]
He graduated from Hampton Institute (Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, now Hampton University) in 1876. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1881.[1][3]
Career
editRobinson was an educator for most of his career and taught school in Elizabeth City and surrounding counties.[2] In 1890 he became Union Street colored school's first principal, located in Hampton[4] and also practiced law.
After retiring from education in 1917,[5] he was a lawyer and board member of The People's Savings and Loan Association and worked in life insurance.[6][7][1]
Politician
editA Republican, Robinson was active politics and was elected as secretary for the local Republican nominating committee in 1886.[8][9] In 1887, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates representing Elizabeth City, James City, Warwick, and York counties and served one term from 1887 to 1888.[7][10] He continued to have various roles within the Republican Party and was chairman of the Elizabeth City nominating committee in 1912.[11]
Personal life
editRobinson was married and had 5 children. His son John H. Robinson, Jr., a doctor, died in 1927.[12] Robinson, Sr. died of pneumonia at his home in Hampton on December 6, 1932.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "John Robinson Former House Member, Is Dead". Daily Press. 1932-12-08. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ a b Hampton Institute (1893). Twenty-two Years' Work of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute at Hampton, Virginia. Normal School Press.
- ^ Smith (Jr.), John Clay (1999). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-8122-1685-1.
- ^ "Nostalgia Reigns At Union Closing". Daily Press. 1968-06-17. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ "Retired Teachers Listed In Journal". Daily Press. 1932-12-20. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ "Deaths". Southern Workman. Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. February 1, 1933. p. 96.
- ^ a b c Tarter, Brent. "John H. Robinson (1857–1932)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Republican Nominating Convention". Public Ledger. September 1, 1886. p. 1.
- ^ Engs, Robert Francis (1979). Freedom's First Generation: Black Hampton, Virginia, 1861-1890. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-8122-7768-5.
- ^ "The Election". Rockbridge County News. November 18, 1887. p. 2.
- ^ "Negro Chairman;Negro Secretary". Times Dispatch. February 26, 1912. p. 7.
- ^ "Deaths". Southern Workman. Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. May 1, 1927. p. 96.