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My name is Henry Martyn Robert. I was born on May 2, 1837 in Robertville, South Carolina. Son of Reverend Joseph Thomas Robert and Adeline Lawton.
My great, great grandfather was Pierre Robert, founder of the Hueguenot church in Charleston in 1633. My father was against slavery so we moved to Ohio when I was a child. At age 16 I was appointed to West Point. At age 20 I graduated 4th in the class of 1857. |  |
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The Civil War began a few years later in 1860. I fought for the Union Army even though I was from the South. I got married to Helen Marie Thresher that year. We had 4 daughters and a son.
During the War, I helped plan the defenses for Washington DC, Philadelphia and the coast of New England. I built harbors, lighthouses and to scout what became the State of Arizona. I also made the Missouri and Mississippi rivers safe for shipping. In 1873 I wrote what become Robert's Rules of Order. We sold 4000 copies in the first year and I became the most famous Parliamentarian in the World. Every meeting held by business, government or other organizations has used my Rules of Order ever since that time. In 1889 I began building a deep sea port in Galveston, Texas after the President approved my recommendation. In 1901 I was promoted to Brigadier General. I retired after 44 years shortly after. I died on May 11, 1923 at age 86. I was internationally famous for making meetings more peaceful and orderly and for making American rivers and ports safe and efficient. A famous quote attributed to me said, "where there is now law, but each man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of liberty." My great grand son, Robert T. Williams, was named in honor of my family. | |
| On to the photoalbum | |