Jonathan Roberts
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Roberts was a United States Representative and Senator from Pennsylvania
from 1811 to 1814 and 1814 to 1821 respectively.
and was educated by a private tutor
. He later worked as a wheelwright
apprentice. From 1799 to 1800 Roberts served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, and the Pennsylvania State Senate
from 1807 to 1811.
On March 4, 1811, he began his tenure as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district
, having been elected as a Democratic-Republican. Working through the 12th
and 13th United States Congress
es he resigned on February 24, 1814, having been elected to the United States Senate
to replace Michael Leib
, who himself had resigned. He started his service in the Senate on the same day.
Re-elected in 1815 Roberts was the chairman of the Committee on Claims from the 14th
through to the 16th Congress
inclusive. During the 16th he was also on the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses and the Committee on Public Buildings. He left the Senate on March 4, 1821.
From 1823 to 1826 he was again a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and later became the collector of customs at the port of Philadelphia from 1841 to 1842. In 1848, Roberts built a school in Upper Merion for poor children who had to walk some distance from mill workers' houses to their previous school.
He died at the age of 82 on his farm, Robertsville, in King of Prussia
, and was interned in the Roberts family cemetery near Norristown.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1811 to 1814 and 1814 to 1821 respectively.
Life and career
Roberts was born near Norristown, PennsylvaniaNorristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
and was educated by a private tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
. He later worked as a wheelwright
Wheelwright
A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...
apprentice. From 1799 to 1800 Roberts served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, and the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
from 1807 to 1811.
On March 4, 1811, he began his tenure as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district
Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district
Pennsylvania's second district includes predominantly African American sections of the city of Philadelphia-West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, and Northwest Philadelphia in addition to Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County...
, having been elected as a Democratic-Republican. Working through the 12th
12th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :During this congress, one new House seat was added for the new state of Louisiana.- Senate :*President: George Clinton *President pro tempore: William H. Crawford -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Henry Clay...
and 13th United States Congress
13th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Elbridge Gerry , until November 23, 1814, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore: Joseph B. Varnum , December 6, 1813 – February 3, 1814** John Gaillard , elected November 25, 1814- House of Representatives :...
es he resigned on February 24, 1814, having been elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to replace Michael Leib
Michael Leib
Michael Leib was an American physician, politician, scientist, inventor, statesman, and philosopher born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served Pennsylvania in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in both the U.S...
, who himself had resigned. He started his service in the Senate on the same day.
Re-elected in 1815 Roberts was the chairman of the Committee on Claims from the 14th
14th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: John Gaillard of South Carolina, first elected December 4, 1815- House of Representatives :* Speaker: Henry Clay of Kentucky-Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
through to the 16th Congress
16th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Alabama and one seat was reapportioned from Massachusetts to the new state of Maine. For the beginning of the next congress, six more seats from Massachusetts would be reapportioned to...
inclusive. During the 16th he was also on the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses and the Committee on Public Buildings. He left the Senate on March 4, 1821.
From 1823 to 1826 he was again a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and later became the collector of customs at the port of Philadelphia from 1841 to 1842. In 1848, Roberts built a school in Upper Merion for poor children who had to walk some distance from mill workers' houses to their previous school.
He died at the age of 82 on his farm, Robertsville, in King of Prussia
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
, and was interned in the Roberts family cemetery near Norristown.