Background
Robertson, George was born on November 18, 1790 in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. Son of Alexander and Margaret (Robinson) Robertson.
United States representative lawyer politician
Robertson, George was born on November 18, 1790 in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. Son of Alexander and Margaret (Robinson) Robertson.
Born near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Robertson pursued preparatory studies and attended Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, until 1806. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1809, and commenced practice in Lancaster, Kentucky.
Robertson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Congresses and served from March 4, 1817, until his resignation in 1821, before the convening of the Seventeenth Congress. He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Fifteenth Congress). He declined the appointment as Governor of Arkansas Territory tendered by President James Monroe and the diplomatic posts of United States Minister to Colombia in 1824 and to Peru in 1828.
He served as Secretary of State of Kentucky in 1828.
He was appointed associate justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1829 and served as chief justice from 1829 to 1834, when he resigned. He resumed the practice of law in Lexington, Kentucky, and became professor of law in Transylvania University 1834-1857.
He served as justice of the Court of Appeals for the Second District of Kentucky 1864-1871 and acting chief justice part of the time. He died in Lexington, Kentucky, May 16, 1874, and was interred at Lexington Cemetery.
Robertson"s sister, Charlotte, was the second wife of Kentucky Governor Robert P. Letcher.
George Robertson is the namesake of Robertson County, Kentucky.
Member United States House of Representatives from Kentucky, 15th-16th congresses, 1817-1821, introduced, helped pass bill organizing Arkansas Territory, initiated legislation changing land system reducing minimum land purchase to 80 acres and price to $1.25 per acre (passed 1820). Member lower house Kentucky Legislature from Garrard County, 1822-1827, from Fayette County, 48-51, 52, speaker, 1823, 25, 26, 51-53, chairman education committee, 1823.
Married Eleanor Bainbridge, November 28, 1809.