Robert Oliver

Robert Richard Oliver (1738–1810 or 1811) was a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War and a representative and president of the council of the Northwest Territory's first general assembly.

Early life Oliver was born in Boston to Irish immigrants. In 1763, he married Mary Walker of Worcester.

Revolutionary War He enlisted as a lieutenant of a company of Minutemen in April 1775. Oliver was promoted to captain in the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment in 1776, major in the 2nd Massachusetts in November 1777 or 3rd Massachusetts (November 1, 1777–January 1, 1783) and lieutenant colonel in the militia in 1779. For example, Major Oliver and other officers of the Massachusetts Line signed a June 13, 1779, letter to George Washington regarding issues they had with how promotions were being handled.

Oliver is an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Post-war After the war, Oliver moved to the Northwest Territory. He was appointed a justice of the peace of Washington County in 1788, and a major of the county militia the following year. He was second in an 1807 election for Washington County commissioner.

He died in Marietta, Ohio, in 1810