Marmaduke Swaim Robins

Marmaduke Swaim Robins (August 31, 1827 - June 27, 1905) was a teacher, lawyer, politician and newspaperman in North Carolina. He served as private secretary to North Carolina governor Zebulon Vance[1] and as a state legislator.[2]

Marmaduke Swaim Robins
North Carolina House of Representatives (Speaker of the house for part)
In office
1862–1864
North Carolina Senate
In office
1866–1867
North Carolina Senate
In office
1876–1877
North Carolina House of Representatives
In office
1883–1884
North Carolina Senate
In office
1885–1888
Personal details
BornAugust 31, 1827
DiedJune 27, 1905(1905-06-27) (aged 77)

Biography

Robins was born August 31, 1827.[3] He started his education in common schools before going on to teach in schools himself.[3] He continued his education earning his university honors degree in 1856 and obtained his law licence the same year.[3] After university he continued to teach at Middleton Academy, Washington, North Carolina, as well as in Franklinville, North Carolina, and Science Hill near the Uwharrie River.[3] When the American Civil War started he stopped teaching and worked as a private secretary for governor Zebulon Baird Vance.[3]

After the war he started up a law practice that became large and successful and where he continued to run and work until the illness that eventually killed him stopped him.[3]

Robins was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives, then known as the North Carolina State House of Commons, to serve 1862-1864 to represent Randolph County, North Carolina.[4][5] He next was elected to the North Carolina Senate for the 1866-1867 session representing Alamance County, North Carolina, and Randolph County.[4][6] He returned to the senate 9 years later represented Moore County, North Carolina, and Randolph County during the 1876-1877 session.[4][7] Returning to the house in 1883 representing Moore and Randolph counties until 1884.[4][8] Finally he returned to the senate in 1885 again representing Moore and Randolph counties until 1888.[4][9]

He was the editor of the Raleigh Conservative newspaper. He founded and edited the Randolph Regulator (which became the The Courier-Tribune) in Asheboro in 1876. His law office remains extant and was used by his son Henry Moring Robins who was also a lawyer and served as Asheboro's mayor from 1907 to 1909.[10]

Robins married Annie Moring on July 24, 1878, and together they had three sons.[3]

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library has a collection of his family papers in its Southern Historical Collection.[1]

Robins died June 27, 1905, after a long battle with cancer.[3]

References
  1. "Marmaduke Swaim Robins Papers, 1825-1887, 1900-1903". finding-aids.lib.unc.edu.
  2. "LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT Henry Moring Robins House, 1924" (PDF). Randolph County Public Library. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  3. "Hon. M. S. Robins - A strong man gone". The Courier. 29 June 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2023.open access
  4. Randolph County, 1779-1979 (PDF). Randolph County Historical Society and the Randolph Arts Guild. 1980. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. "North Carolina State House of Commons - 1862-1864". www.carolana.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  6. "North Carolina State Senate - 1866-1867". www.carolana.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  7. "North Carolina State Senate - 1876-1877". www.carolana.com.
  8. "North Carolina State House of Representatives - 1883". www.carolana.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  9. "North Carolina State Senate - 1885". www.carolana.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  10. Holt, Ross. "LibGuides: Historic Landmark Preservation Commission: Marmaduke Robins Law Office". randolphlibrary.libguides.com.
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