Moses Robinson born on 26. 03. 1742 in Hardwick Massachusetts was a jurist, and statesman. Dominant figure in the early history of Vermont, United States.
Background
Moses Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel and Mercy (Lennard, or Leonard) Robinson and a descendant of William Robinson, an early settler in Newton.
In 1761 his father helped to found the town of Bennington, Vermont, and in the next few years was prominent in the pioneer life of the future state. Moses Robinson soon became an important citizen of Bennington in his own right, serving as town clerk from 1762 to 1781. He farmed and speculated in land, and became active in the American independence movement, serving as a colonel in the Vermont militia during the American Revolution.
Career
In January 1777, Robinson sat in the convention which declared the independence of Vermont, under the name of New Connecticut, and he was elected a member of the Governor's Council by the first General Assembly under the Constitution adopted the same year.
With Ethan Allen and three others he was chosen, in 1779, to appear before Congress as a representative of Vermont empowered to enter into articles of union and confederation with the United States; and later, in 1782, he served on a committee authorized to agree upon terms for the admission of Vermont into the Union. The main obstacle to such admission was the long-pending boundary dispute with New York, and he took a prominent part in its adjustment. He also served as a member of the third Council of Censors, charged with supervision over the state constitution, and over the legislative and executive departments of the state government. Although Robinson was not a lawyer by profession he was elected the first chief justice of the supreme court of Vermont--at first called the superior court--in 1778, holding that office, except for one year when he failed of election, until 1789, when he was elected governor of Vermont by the General Assembly.
Twice thereafter, in 1797 and 1798, he was a candidate for the same office.
In January 1791 he was a member of the convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, and later in the same month, he was elected United States Senator from Vermont, sharing with Stephen R. Bradley the honor of being the first senator from the newly admitted state.
He served in the Senate until he resigned in 1796.
His most conspicuous activity in that body was his determined opposition to the Jay treaty of 1794 - an opposition he continued in his state after the ratification of the treaty, in support of the movement to defeat the appropriation by Congress of the funds necessary to carry it into effect. He performed his last public service in 1802 when he represented the town of Bennington in the General Assembly.
Achievements
In 1789, he was elected governor of Vermont by the General Assembly. In January 1791 he was a member of the convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, and later in the same month, he was elected United States senator from Vermont, sharing with Stephen R. Bradley the honor of being the first senator from the newly admitted state.
Politics
In January 1777 he sat in the convention which declared the independence of Vermont, under the name of New Connecticut, and he was elected a member of the Governor's Council by the first General Assembly under the constitution adopted the same year.
Membership
Member of the Vermont Council of Safety.
Member of the Governor's Council.
Member of the third Council of Censors, charged with supervision over the state constitution, and over the legislative and executive departments of the state government.
Member of the convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States in January 1791.
Connections
Robinson was twice married.
His first wife was Mary Fay, by whom he had six sons.
