William R. Roberts
William Randall Roberts (February 6, 1830 – August 9, 1897) was a diplomat, Fenian Society member, and United States Representative from New York (1871–1875). Born in County Cork, Ireland, he immigrated to the United States in July 1849, received a limited schooling, and was a merchant in New York City until 1869, until he retired.
In 1865, Roberts was president of the Fenian Society, an Irish nationalist organization noted for its raids on British installations in Canada. He participated in the raid into Canada in 1866, for which he was arrested by the Government.
Roberts was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat twice, to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871 – March 4, 1875). After his time in the House, he was member of the board of aldermen of New York City in 1877, an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in 1879, and was appointed as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Chile by President Grover Cleveland on April 2, 1885, serving until August 19, 1889.
He died in New York City in 1897; interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York.
References[]
- United States Congress. "William R. Roberts (id: R000316)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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- 1830 births
- 1897 deaths
- 19th-century American diplomats
- Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Queens)
- Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)
- Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
- People of the Fenian raids
- Politicians from County Cork
- Politicians from New York City
- Ambassadors of the United States to Chile
- New York (state) Democrats
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 19th-century American politicians
- American activists for Irish independence