Robert Rogers Corson was an American merchant and humanitarian.
Background
Robert Rogers Corson was born on May 03, 1831 at New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States. He was a descendant of Cornelius Corson of Staten Island, who was born in France but emigrated to New York with other Huguenots and was commissioned a justice of the peace and captain of foot. Benjamin Corson, a son of Cornelius and Maritie, his wife, moved from Staten Island to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1726, taking with him Benjamin Corson II. From the latter was descended Dr. Richard D. Corson of New Hope, Bucks County, who married Helen Stockton Johnson of Princeton, New Jersey. Dr. Corson became well-known in his locality as a medical practitioner and as an instructor of medical students who studied under his direction and rode with him in his medical circuits.
Education
Robert Rodgers Corson was educated in the local schools at New Hope and in the Tremount Seminary at Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Career
At nineteen years of age Corson went to Pottsville to learn the business of mining and selling coal. In 1856, having leased a coal-mine near Pottsville, he moved to Philadelphia and became active as a coal merchant and shipper, operating three wharves on the Schuylkill.
At the outbreak of the Civil War the Union soldiers were largely assembled at and near Philadelphia. With others, Corson established the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and served as its corresponding secretary. The United States government established its military hospitals at Philadelphia, and the activity of Corson in the visitation of the sick soldiers, and his ministrations to the army were of such importance that he was commissioned State Agent by the governors of Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Wisconsin, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Maryland. The resolution of the Rhode Island Assembly in January 1866 expressing thanks for his devotion to the interests of “our soldiers, ’’ and the Massachusetts General Order No. 13 of July 20, 1865, thanking Corson for his “kindness in watching over the sick and wounded soldiers from this state” are typical of the contemporary appreciation of this work.
Corsons's little volume, A Soldiers' Guide, containing local addresses of army officials, railroad schedules, etc. , seems to have been his only publication. It was distributed freely by the Committee of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. Corson recruited some 14, 000 colored troops into the Union service without cost to the Government. He was a member of the Union League of Philadelphia from February 20, 1864, to September 25, 1883, when he resigned.
In 1881 he became interested in the Luray Caverns in Virginia. Under his management electric lights were introduced into the caverns and the Luray Inn was built. His interest in prison reform resulted in his appointment as inspector to the Moyamensing Prison. He later returned to Philadelphia, where he died.
Achievements
Robert Rogers Corson is remembered for his notable work in a part of humanity during the American Civil War.
Membership
Corson served as secretary to the Freedmen’s Relief Association, as treasurer of the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as director and treasurer of the Citizens Municipal Reform Association, as inspector for the Deaf and Dumb, for the State of Pennsylvania. He took an active part in the work of the Philadelphia Society for Organizing Charity, and various other Philadelphia welfare works.
Connections
Corson married Rebecca J. Foulke of Penllyn District, who shared his humanitarian labors. They had no children.
