Daniel A. Robertson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 02 district
In office
December 7, 1859 – January 7, 1861
Mayor of St. Paul
In office
1859–1860
Preceded byNorman Kittson
Succeeded byJohn S. Prince
Delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851
In office
1850–1850
Personal details
Born(1812-05-13)May 13, 1812
Pictou, Nova Scotia
DiedMarch 16, 1895(1895-03-16) (aged 82)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
NationalityScottish
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Julia Annie Bell
​
(m. 1844)​
Occupation
  • journalist
  • politician
  • lawyer
Military service
Branch/serviceMinnesota State Militia
RankColonel

Daniel A. Robertson (May 13, 1812 – March 16, 1895) was a Democratic politician, newspaper proprietor, and lawyer who served in local and state politics in Ohio and Minnesota. Robertson served in the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 for 3 months before resigning to move to Minnesota.[1] Robertson was a Mayor of Saint Paul from 1859 to 1860, resigning as he was elected to the 2nd Minnesota Legislature from December 7, 1859, to January 7, 1861.[2]

Outside of politics, Robertson was a newspaper editor and proprietor. In Ohio, Robertson owned the Mount Vernon Banner, Ohio Eagle of Lancaster, and the Guernsey County News and was an editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer.[1] When Robertson moved to Minnesota, he founded the Minnesota Democrat, which he sold in June 1853 and which merged into the Minnesota Pioneer.[1].

Early life and start of newspaper career

Daniel A. Robertson was born on May 13, 1812, in Pictou, Nova Scotia. He moved to New York City at age 18 where he studied law.[1]: 431  He was admitted to practice in New York in 1839.[2] After a short while, Robertson abandoned his law practice and pursued a career in journalism. Moving to Ohio, Robertson became the editor and proprietor of three Democratic Ohio papers. Robertson owned the Mount Vernon Banner, the Ohio Eagle of Lancaster, and the Guernsey County News. Robertson also served as an editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer[1]: 431 .

Robertson was appointed as a US Marshall for the District of Ohio in 1844 where he served one four-year term. Also in that year, Robertson was married to Julia Annie Bell.[1] In 1850, Ohio began the process of replacing the Ohio Constitution. The Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 consisted of a majority of Democratic Party representatives split into liberal and conservative factions.[3] Robertson was elected as Fairfield County's representative to the convention, but served only three months before moving to Minnesota.[1]

Move to Minnesota

Robertson moved to Minnesota in late fall 1850 and established a newspaper, the Minnesota Democrat, in December. In June 1853, Robertson sold the paper to David Olmsted and it was merged with the Pioneer – eventually the St. Paul Pioneer Press.[1] During this time, Robertson also began to build an extensive private library and became involved with efforts to promote cultural institutions.[4]: 300 

In 1855, Robertson served as the chair of the committee seeking to raise funds to construct a building to house the Minnesota Historical Society. Robertson raised $1,500 to purchase two lots in St. Paul on which to build and on, June 24, 1856, organized a gala to celebrate the laying of the society's cornerstone.[4]: 300–301  The building committee was out of funds two weeks later and while plans were made for a potential $15,000 building, no more work was performed following the Panic of 1857.[4]: 301–302  The actuary of the Minnesota Historical Society, William H. Kelley, resigned in late 1859 due to the inability to pay his salary and the Society's collections were closed to the public.[5]: 71  Meeting in the Saint Paul Public Library, as the Minnesota State Capitol had no suitable meeting rooms, Robertson, Kelley, and other members began to resuscitate the Society in 1853 and succeeded in getting the Minnesota State Legislature to renew the Society's annual appropriation of $500 in 1864.[5]: 72  The Society had no building of its own during Robertson's lifetime, remaining in the Minnesota State Capitol until the Minnesota Historical Society Building completed construction in 1917.[4]: 317 

Robertson was elected as Mayor of St. Paul in Spring 1859 and served in that role until he was elected as Representative to the 2nd Minnesota Legislature.[2][1] Prior to the American Civil War, Robertson served as a colonel of a regiment of the Minnesota National Guard.[1] Robertson also served on the St. Paul board of education from 1862 to 1859.[2] Robertson was elected as Ramsey County sheriff in 1862 and served four terms.[1]

In 1867, while Robertson was a professor of agriculture at the University of Minnesota, he was elected as the first President of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society[6] Robertson was also a member of the National Scientific Association and the American Geographical Society.[1] He was also a member of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry and organized the first "grange" of the order.[1]

Robertson died in St. Paul on March 16, 1895.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Flandrau, Charles E. (1900). Encyclopedia of Biography of Minnesota: History of Minnesota, Volume 1 (Volume 1 ed.). Chicago: Century Publishing and Engraving Company. pp. 431–432. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Robertson, Daniel A. "D.A."". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850–1851". Ohio History Central. Ohio History Connection. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Berthel, Mary Wheelhouse; Cater, Dean Harold (December 1949). "The Minnesota Historical Society: Highlight of a Century". Minnesota History. 30 (4): 293–330. JSTOR 20175482. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 Seventh Biennial Report of the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, to the Legislature of Minnesota (Report). Minneapolis: Harrison & Smith, Printers. 1893. Retrieved 27 July 2022 – via Minnesota Historical Society.
  6. ↑ Duin, Edgar C. "Peter M Gideon: Pioneer Horticulturist". Minnesota History. 44 (3): 96–103. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
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