The Governor's Gig

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 3:19 pm

I know that George Robinson was governor of Massachusetts three times. But what years were they? How long was a governor's term in Massachusetts then? I have yet to find a clear, simple answer to this, and I've been looking.

mesadave · Post by **mesadave** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:01 pm

It's really quite simple to find out. Just do a Google search on George Dexter Robinson. The second site down gives you the dates he was elected Governor.

http://www.famousamericans.net/georgedexterrobinson/

Almost as easy as having your picture taken on the Covel cottage porch.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:06 pm

He was Governor from 1883 to 1886. I believe the term of office was for one year then.

In 1886 he appointed Dewey to the Superior Court.

I picked up the attached bio on him from an item previously auctioned on e-Bay.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:10 pm

Thanks for the ton of information. Every other source I had read did not make it clear exactly which years he was governor. I thought there was a possibility of him losing one year, then winning another year. And I wasn't sure how long a term was back then. Apparently he did not really want to be governor to begin with, but people urged him to do it. Too bad nobody's written a book on him. He sounds pretty interesting.

Wordweaver · Post by **Wordweaver** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:51 am

Well, according to theSan Jose Public Library database, there's a pamphlet about him written by Henry Cabot Lodge. It's available on microfiche.

Author Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924.
Title An address commemorative of the life and services of George D. Robinson, governor of the Commonwealth, 1884-86 [microform] / by Henry Cabot Lodge.
Pub info Boston : Published by the town, 1896.[/url]

I wouldn't be surprised if Massachusetts libraries had more detailed material on him.