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1820 - 1824

Thomas Bolling Robertson, the 3rd governor of Louisiana, was born and died in Virginia.  His mother, Elizabeth Bolling, was a descendant of Pocahontas.  His father was William Robertson.

His family was prominent.  John, his younger brother was attorney general and then Lt. Governor of Virginia.  His brother  Wyndham became governor of Virginia and author of the book Pocahontas And Her Descendants. 

Thomas Robertson after graduating from William & Mary College, practiced law at Petersburg, Virginia.

In 1807, President Jefferson appointed him as Secretary to the new Territory of Louisiana and he became attorney general of the territory as well.

After statehood, he represented Louisiana in the U. S. Congress for four terms from 1811 to 1818.  While in Congress, he challenged John Randolph over on offensive reflection on his vote in favor of a duty on sugar.  Randolph declined the challenge.

Robertson was in Paris and witnessed Bonaparte's address to the Hall of Deputies before his departure for Waterloo.  He remained in Paris through the Hundred Days and again witnessed Bonaparte's address to the Hall of Deputies after the war.  His written account of these events in letters to family were later published in a book.

In late 1818 he was appointed attorney general of Louisiana.  In 1820 he became governor after defeating Pierre Derbigny.

President Monroe appointed him District Judge of the United States during his term as governor causing his resignation as governor.

In 1827 his supporters asked him to run for governor which he modestly declined and continued as District Judge of the United States. 

His health was poor as he visited his parents in Virginia in 1828.  He soon died in White Sulphur Springs, now in West Virginia where he had gone to use the healing springs.  His brother Wyndham said that "he died as he had lived, honorably poor". 

He is buried in that town on what is now the property of The Greenbrier Resort complex.  The Calwell Family Cemetery is located in the Greenbrier Resort complex, behind Unit #9 on Copeland Hill Drive.

This cemetery contains the remains of sixteen unknown confederate soldiers killed in the battle of Dry Creek on August 26-27, 1863.  Gov. Robertson had been dead for about 35 years.  The cemetery also has seventy stones marking the location of unknown persons.  Gov. Robertson, fortunately, is not one of those.

All Pictures Have Been Graciously Provided by

Dr. Robert Conte

Historian

The Greenbrier

White Sulphur Springs, WV

Table Top & Brick Sided Grave

is that of Thomas B. Robertson

in Calwell Family Cemetery

Thomas B. Robertson Grave

To the Memory
of
Thomas B. Robertson
Born
the 27th of February, 1779, and departed this
life the 5th of October, 1828, aged
49 years, 7 months and 8 days.

(The stone is very weathered)

Biographies

La. Secretary of State
Magazine of American History, Vol VII, 1881
National Governors Association
U. S. Congressional Biography

News

1798 Newspaper Reference 9-10-1798
Candidate Review 6-6-1820
Robertson's Modesty 9-15-1827
Eulogy 10-27-1828
Obituary 11-4-1828
Wyndham Robertson - Brother 4-2-1836

Ancestry

Pocahontas And Her Descendants, published 1887, Richmond, VA
- by Wyndham Robertson (see page 76)

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