Jonathan Robinson

Jonathan Robinson (August 11, 1756 – November 3, 1819) was an American politician, lawyer, and judge from the state of Vermont who served as chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and a United States senator.

Early life Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, on August 11, 1756, a son of Samuel Robinson and Mercy (Leonard) Robinson. He was raised in Hardwick, and in 1761 he moved with his family to Bennington, in what would later become Vermont but was then governed as part of New Hampshire – the New Hampshire Grants. He served as a private and corporal in the company commanded by Joseph Safford, which was part of the regiment commanded by Ebenezer Walbridge. He later decided to study law, and he was admitted to the bar in 1796. In addition to terms as a Bennington justice of the peace and member of the board of selectmen, among the offices in which he served were: member of the Vermont House of Representatives (1789–1796, 1797–1802, 1818–1819); Bennington town clerk (1795–1801); judge of probate for the Bennington district (1795–1798, 1800–1801, 1815–1818); and chief judge of the Vermont Supreme Court (1801–1807). In August 1787, he was assigned as the brigade's judge advocate.

In each year from 1803 to 1806, Robinson was the Democratic-Republican nominee for governor, and lost each time to Isaac Tichenor. In 1807, Robinson was elected to the United States Senate, filling the unexpired term of Israel Smith, who had resigned.

Family Robinson was the husband of Mary (Fassett) Robinson. Mary Robinson was the wife of Orsamus Cook Merrill.

Robinson's brother Moses Robinson served as governor during the Vermont Republic as a U.S. senator. Brother Samuel was a colonel in the militia and served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives. Attempts to locate one have proved unsuccessful.