Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-21

th1rty-seven years ago delivered the Grafton at
the laying of the corner stone, is a descendant
in the sixth generation of Gov. John Winthrop,
whose name is written in large letters over the
early history of the Massachusetts, colony. He
is great grandson of Gov. James Bowdoin, a
grandson of Sir John Temple bart, who died in
1898, and a son OF Thomas LindelI Winthrop.
graduated at Harvard in 1928, studied law
with Daniel Webster, 1S2S-31; was whig
| member of the Massachusetts legislature from
| 1896 to 1910, and speaker Of the lower house
during his last term in that body. He served
| as a Representative in Congress in 1s41A2,
Speaker of the House in the 3Oth Congress,
| 1910, and distinguished himself by his tact
| full eloquence on the floor, and his skill in
! debate. In 1s47 he visited Europe, and again
crossed cross, the 6. ocean a few years later His
snp in mf any Literary and scientific sadts as
fore the New England Society of New York
| city'in 1910. He was president of the Nassa-
ehusetts college of electors in 1S4S, and U. s.
the unexpired term of Daniel Webster in 1850
and 81. In 1851 he received a large plurality
defeated in the legislature. He delivered at
Boston, November 23d. 1858, an Grafton on
Arc, Archimedes and franklin" which gave i'm
ton of the statue of Franklin in that city, and
he was the orator on the occasion Of the dedica~
| ton of that statue September II. 1855, as he
had been at the inauguration of the Boston pub
lie library, 1856, president of the city library
commissioners. Mr.. Winthrop has been for
many years the president of the Massachusetts,
Historical society, of which body he Is the sem
| Tor member. He has for many years devoted
his leisure to the cause Of historical literature
taking little part in recent political questions
| His residence is at BrOOkhne, near Boston. His
public occasions have been collected and
printed. He has accomplished much literary
| work most of it being historical or biographical
in character. Some years ago he delivered a
course of lectures the early history of
Massachusetts. His last great Oratorical
effort was made at the bi-centennial celebration
of the landing ofthe Pilgrims at Plymouth, held
December 21, 1870. The Grafton at the laying
of the cornerstone of the Washington monu-
ment was delivered while Mr.. Winthrop was
Speaker of the House. OF that effort the. Ma
! t0ndt IntetHgencer said: "The Hon. Robert C.
| Winthrop, Speaker of the House of Representa-
| tives, the appointed orator of the day, then
rose and delivered an GRAFTON, which for emil
sion, for classic purity of diction, unaffected
ease and grace in the delivery, manly, heartfelt,
thrilling eloquence and patriotic fire, has per-
| haps never been surpassed. The course of the
breeze was favorable in waiting the rich and
| sonorous tones of his voice towards the audience
before him, and they responded to it, pulse to
pulse by oft-repeated bursts OF applause. OF the
speech, so far we know, there is but one Opin-
ion. Mr.. Winthrop was fully up to the occa-
sion, and has erected for himself, If he had none
other, an tmperishable monument of renOwn.
AS Websters great speech is associated with the
| thought of the monument at Bunker Hill, so
will that Of Winthrop be coupled with that of
recollections Of Washington Monument at the
|