George D. Robinson
George Dexter Robinson (born George Washington Robinson; January 20, 1834 – February 22, 1896) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Chicopee, Massachusetts. After serving in the Massachusetts General Court and United States House of Representatives, Robinson served three one-year terms as Governor of Massachusetts, notably defeating Benjamin Franklin Butler in the 1883 election.
George Dexter Robinson | |
|---|---|
Portrait c. 1900 | |
| 34th Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 3, 1884 – January 6, 1887 | |
| Lieutenant | Oliver Ames |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Butler |
| Succeeded by | Oliver Ames |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – January 7, 1884 | |
| Preceded by | Chester W. Chapin |
| Succeeded by | Francis W. Rockwell |
| Constituency | 11th district (1877–83) 12th district (1883–84) |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 2nd Hampden district | |
| In office January 5, 1876 – January 3, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Fuller |
| Succeeded by | Henry C. Ewing |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1874 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Washington Robinson January 20, 1834 Lexington, Massachusetts |
| Died | February 22, 1896 (aged 62) Chicopee, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Hannah Stevens
(m. 1859; died 1864)Susan Simonds (m. 1867) |
| Alma mater | Harvard College |
| Signature | |
After leaving office, his most famous legal client was Lizzie Borden, notoriously accused of killing her father and stepmother. She was acquitted in a highly sensationalized trial.
Born in Lexington and educated at Harvard, Robinson taught high school before becoming a lawyer. He gained a reputation as a fine Parliamentarian while serving in Congress. As governor, he promoted the passage of civil service reform legislation and labor-friendly wage and dispute-resolution laws. He aligned with the state's industrial leaders against public health advocates, and banned discrimination in the issuance of life insurance policies. As a lawyer, he gained notoriety for Borden's defense, and was criticized for defending fraudulent fraternal benefit societies.