The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-02-06
'RICHELIEU DEAD.
William Erigena Robinson Passes
Away at Brooklyn After a
Long Illness.
FAILURE THE CAUSE
His Career One of the Most Pic
turesque in American Life
and Politics.

| turesque in American Life
and Politics.
William Erigena Robinson, best
known as "Richeleu" from the pen
name assumed by him as a newspaper
correspondent, died at Brooklyn, n. Y,
on Jan. %, after protracted illness.
His death was not unexpected, as for
two years his physical strength had been
waning, and those to whom his actual
condition was known had for many
months been in anticipation of the event.
Two years ago he suffered severe at
tack Of heart failure, and since that time
was much enfeebled. On the previous
Sunday another attack occurred, and
since then he was confined to his bed.
He was attended by DR.. Cruikshank; but
his weakened condition and great age
weighed against him.
The career of ''Richlieu" Robinson
was one of the most picturesque and
stirring in American life and politics.
His plucky and successful efforts to OBJ
tsin a college education, bis remarkable
experience as journalist, and his brill
liant letters as correspondent; his SER
vices AS great and fearless statesman
in the land of his adoption, and his ill.,
tense love for, combined with practical
devotion to, the country of his birth, all
stamped him as one of the most remark
able se!f-made men of his time. For
half century he was active in national
politics, and during his life enjoyed the
friendship of some OF the gretest man OF
the country, including Daniel Webster.
Henry Clay, President William Henry
Harrison, William Fl. Seward, Thurlow
Weed, Noah Webster and Horace Gree
Icy.
"Richlieu" Robinson was born in
Unagh, near Cookstown, County Tyrone
Ireland, May 6, 1914. His father and
brothers were respectable and prosper
Gus tradesmen in Cookstown, Coleraine
and Ballymeney; his father wished him
to follow the same occupation, but the
boy was determined to obtain collegi-
ate education and unknown to his father,
with the assistance Of his teacher, who
lent him money for the purpose, he pro-
cured the Greek and Latin text books
and pursued his studies in the night
Mr.. Robinson discovered the eagerness
of his son for study. ceased his opposi.
tion and sent him to Belfast, where at
the age of twenty years he entered col
lege. His zeal in improving his oppor-
tunities probably contributed to throw
him into typhoid fever, from which he
was long in recovering, and by the ur-
gent advice of his physicians he was
compelled to return home and abandon
for time his studies.
William now occupied his time in
landscape gardening on his fathers
farm; and the gravelled walks, the haw-
thorne hedges and the now stately forest
trees planted by his hands still exist and
give evidence Of his love of natural
beauty. Soon after he undertook to OBJ
tain the means and to erect school
house at Unagh, which should be far SUI
perior to anything in that region; and
enlistine the interest and contributions
of the neighboring people, and even of
the Lord Lieutenant Of Ireland, for the
purpo- Q, he achieved, as he had usually
done since in his undertakings, a grand
success. But the health 80 earnestly
sought for did not return; he resolved
upon an ocean voyage. He sailed on the
ship Ganges, and after a voyage of sixty
four days, landed in New York City in
the summer of 1886, completely restored
in health and with
ONLY FIVE DOLLARS IN HIS POCKET.
For year young Robinson did odd
jobs and newspaper work, and then, in
September, 1887, entered Yale college
He had but $40 which he could call his
own, but despite his financial difficult
ties, he won leading place in the col
lege, and that in a class very remarkable
for the ability Of it's members. He took
the first step in his political career while
he was junior. At his graduation he
delivered the farewell Grafton to his class
when he proved to be graceful and elo-
quent speaker.
For the next two years he pursued his
studies at the Yale law school, and took
his degree Of A. M. During this time
his services were much in demand in
many large cities, including Boston, for
the delivery Of some eloquent lectures he
had prebared on ireland and the Irish.
While, IN college Mr.. Robinson made the
acquaintance Of Horace Greeley and af e: