George W. Robinson
Encyclopedia
George Washington Robinson (May 14, 1814 – February 10, 1878) was the first secretary to the First Presidency
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was also a Danite
leader and an official church recorder
in the 1830s and was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
in the Rigdonite
church established in 1845.
Born in Pawlet
, Vermont
, Robinson was a son-in-law
to prominent Latter Day Saint leader Sidney Rigdon
, having married Athalia Rigdon in 1837. Robinson also became the recorder
of the church in 1837. On April 6, 1838, Robinson was appointed the first clerk or secretary to the church's First Presidency
. Robinson was imprisoned in Liberty Jail
with Joseph Smith, Jr. at Liberty, Missouri
for a period of time.
In 1839, Robinson became the first postmaster
in Commerce, Illinois
, which was later renamed Nauvoo
. Robinson was released from his recorder and secretarial duties in 1840 when he moved from Nauvoo across the Mississippi River
to Iowa
.
In 1842, Robinson became disaffected with the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr.. During the 1844 succession crisis, Robinson supported the leadership aspirations of his father-in-law Sidney Rigdon. In 1845, when Rigdon created a rival church
to the church led by Brigham Young
, Robinson was selected as a member of the Rigdonite Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
. In 1847, Robinson followed the advice of Rigdon and moved from Nauvoo to Friendship
, New York
, where in 1864 he founded the First National Bank.
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was also a Danite
Danite
The Danites were a fraternal organization founded by Latter Day Saint members in June 1838, in the town of Far West in Caldwell County, Missouri. During their period of organization in Missouri, the Danites operated as a vigilante group and took a central role in the events of the 1838 Mormon War...
leader and an official church recorder
Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The role of the Church Historian and Recorder is to keep an accurate and comprehensive record of the church and its activities...
in the 1830s and was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
in the Rigdonite
Rigdonite
Rigdonite is a name given to members of the Latter Day Saint movement who accept Sidney Rigdon as the successor in the church presidency to movement founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. The early history of the Rigdonite movement is shared with the history of the Latter Day Saint movement, but as of the...
church established in 1845.
Born in Pawlet
Pawlet, Vermont
Pawlet is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,477 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which 0.02% is water.Pawlet is a rural farming town...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Robinson was a son-in-law
Son-in-Law
Son-in-Law was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, especially for sport horses.The National Horseracing Museum says that Son-in-Law is "probably the best and most distinguished stayer this country has ever known." Described as "one of the principal influences for stamina in...
to prominent Latter Day Saint leader Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
, having married Athalia Rigdon in 1837. Robinson also became the recorder
Church Historian and Recorder
Church Historian and Recorder is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The role of the Church Historian and Recorder is to keep an accurate and comprehensive record of the church and its activities...
of the church in 1837. On April 6, 1838, Robinson was appointed the first clerk or secretary to the church's First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
. Robinson was imprisoned in Liberty Jail
Liberty Jail
Liberty Jail is a former jail in Liberty, Missouri, USA where Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of Latter Day Saint movement, and other associates were imprisoned from December 1, 1838 to April 6, 1839 during the 1838 Mormon War...
with Joseph Smith, Jr. at Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At the 2007 population estimate, the city population was 29,993...
for a period of time.
In 1839, Robinson became the first postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
in Commerce, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, which was later renamed Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. Robinson was released from his recorder and secretarial duties in 1840 when he moved from Nauvoo across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
In 1842, Robinson became disaffected with the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr.. During the 1844 succession crisis, Robinson supported the leadership aspirations of his father-in-law Sidney Rigdon. In 1845, when Rigdon created a rival church
Rigdonite
Rigdonite is a name given to members of the Latter Day Saint movement who accept Sidney Rigdon as the successor in the church presidency to movement founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. The early history of the Rigdonite movement is shared with the history of the Latter Day Saint movement, but as of the...
to the church led by Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, Robinson was selected as a member of the Rigdonite Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
. In 1847, Robinson followed the advice of Rigdon and moved from Nauvoo to Friendship
Friendship, New York
Friendship is a town in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 1,927 at the 2000 census. The town's name was adopted to mark the resolution of earlier conflicts....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where in 1864 he founded the First National Bank.