Robert Roberts (American politician)

Robert Roberts was born in Manchester, Vermont on January 1, 1848, a son of attorney Daniel Roberts and Caroline Diantha (Martindale) Roberts.[1][2] He attended Burlington High School in Burlington and Manchester's Burr and Burton Seminary, then began attendance at the University of Vermont.[1] While in college, Roberts joined the Delta Psi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa.[1] After graduating in 1869, Roberts attended Columbia Law School for a year, then continued his studies in French at schools in Paris and Geneva.[1][2] While studying in Europe, Roberts was a correspondent for several newspapers in the United States.[1]

Roberts was admitted to the bar in 1871 and began to practice in Burlington.[1] A Republican, Roberts began a career in politics and government when he was appointed reporter for the Vermont Senate's sessions of 1874, 1878 and 1880.[1]

In 1876 and 1877, Roberts practiced law in Chicago.[1] He then resumed residence in Burlington, where he practiced law in partnership with his father.[1] They maintained the firm of Roberts & Roberts until Daniel Roberts died in 1899, after which Robert Roberts practiced alone.[1]

Roberts was a member of the Merchants National Bank board of directors, the University of Vermont board of trustees, and the board of trustees of the Vermont State Library.[1] Roberts's civic and professional memberships included the Vermont Bar Association, Ethan Allen Club, Algonquin Club, Sons of the American Revolution and Waubanakee Golf Club.[1]

In 1910, he compiled and published the Vermont Digest, a reference work on the decisions of the Vermont Supreme Court.[1] In compiling this work, Roberts revised 60 volumes of decisions that had previously been compiled by his father, and updated it to 82 volumes.[2]

From 1882 to 1884, Roberts represented Burlington in the Vermont House of Representatives.[1] While in the House, Roberts was a member of the judiciary committee and chairman of the committee on revised bills.[1] From 1887 to 1889, he was Burlington's city attorney.[1]

From 1890 to 1892, Roberts represented Chittenden County in the Vermont Senate.[1] During his Senate term, Roberts was chairman of the judiciary committee.[1]

In 1899 and 1900, Roberts won election as mayor of Burlington, and he served from April 1899 to April 1901.[1] In 1911, he was again elected mayor, and he served until 1913.[1]

Roberts died at his home in Burlington on February 23, 1939.[2] For several years before his death, Roberts was the University of Vermont's oldest living graduate.[2] Roberts's funeral took place at the Congregational church on College Street, and honorary pallbearers included Guy W. Bailey, Harland B. Howe, James Edmund Burke, Clarence H. Beecher, and John Holmes Jackson.[3] Roberts was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.[3]

In 1886, Roberts married Minnie Elizabeth Lyman (1861-1940).[1] They were married until his death, and had no children.[2]

• Robert Roberts at Find a Grave