Sterling C. Robertson
Sterling Clack Robertson (1785–1842) was an empresario from Tennessee, during Mexican Texas. He introduced 600 families into Robertson's Colony. Robertson was also an elected delegate to the Washington-on-the-Brazos convention, signing both the and the . He became a Senator during the first two sessions of the Congress of the Republic of Texas. Early life in Tennessee. Sterling Clack Robertson was born one of five children on October 2, 1785, into a wealthy and influential slave-holding family in Nashville, Tennessee. Robertson received a private education from Judge John McNairy by request through Elijah Robertson 's will and through his family connections. His father was Captain Elijah Robertson, who left Brunswick County, Virginia in the 18th Century to join family members and other early white settlers in Tennessee. Sterling's mother was Sarah Maclin Robertson. His paternal uncle James Robertson was an explorer known as the Father of Tennessee. His descendants were accomplished persons. Son Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson became a Colonel in the Republic of Texas militia, and built a plantation in Salado, Texas. Robertson's great-great-granddaughter was author Liz Carpenter, who was a press spokesperson for both President Lyndon B. Johnson  and later for Ladybird Johnson. Robertson was a gray-eyed, sandy-haired man who stood . He was known to be a hot-tempered ladies man who dressed in expensive tailored clothes. As a youth, Robertson was convicted of manslaughter of one of his cousins in Tennessee, but did not serve his five-month sentence until April 6 to September 1, 1832. Robertson's colony. Under Mexican Texas, Robertson received an empresario contract to settle 800 families in Texas. Texas Rangers and public service. In 1835, empresario Robertson formed his own rangers company to deal with Indian depredations at Robertson's  Colony. Robertson was a delegate to the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. He signed both the and the . He was also a Senator at the first two sessions of the Congress of the Republic of Texas Personal life and death. According to his descendants, Robertson never married. However, he sired two sons by two different women. In addition to Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson with Frances King, he also fathered James Maclin Robertson with Rachael Smith. On December 18, 1837, Republic of Texas Senator Robertson got legislation passed that acknowledged both sons as his legitimate issue, and legally entitled to  inherit his estate. The legislation was signed into law by Republic President Sam Houston: Sterling Clack Robertson died of pneumonia in Robertson County on March 4, 1842. His remains were removed to Austin and reinterred in the Texas State Cemetery on December 29, 1935.