William Erigena Robinson

Who was William Erigena Robinson?

William Erigena Robinson was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Born in Unagh, near Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, Robinson attended the classical school in Cookstown and Belfast College in 1834. Immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City in November 1836. He was graduated from Yale College in 1841. Connected for two years with the Yale Law School. He engaged in lecturing before literary associations. He served as assistant editor of the New York Tribune in 1843 and its only Washington correspondent, writing under the name of "Richelieu". Also wrote Washington correspondence for other papers. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1854 and practiced law in New York City. He was appointed by President Lincoln assessor of internal revenue for the third district of New York in 1862.

Robinson was elected as a Democrat to the Fortieth Congress. He resumed the practice of law.

Robinson was elected to the Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth Congresses. He died in Brooklyn, New York, on January 23, 1892. He was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.