Theodore Douglas Robinson

Theodore Douglas Robinson was born on April 28, 1883, in New York City. His parents were Douglas Robinson Jr. and Corinne Roosevelt. He was a member of the Roosevelt family through his mother and was the eldest nephew of President Theodore Roosevelt. Robinson was also descended from the Schuyler family and was known as an Oyster Bay Roosevelt.

For his education, Robinson attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and graduated from Harvard University in 1904.

Robinson's paternal grandparents were Douglas Robinson Sr. and Frances Monroe, a grandniece of President James Monroe. His maternal grandparents were Theodore "Thee" Roosevelt Sr., a businessman and philanthropist, and Martha Stewart "Mittie" Bulloch, a socialite. His father was a real estate dealer who served as president of Douglas Robinson Company, Charles S. Brown Company, and the Douglas Land Company; he was also a trustee of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company and a director of the Equitable Life Insurance Society and the Astor Trust Company. Robinson had three younger siblings: Corinne, Monroe, and Stewart.

In his early career, Robinson first ran for the New York State Legislature in 1910 but was defeated in the primaries by Charles S. Millington. He was successful in his 1912 campaign, serving in the 135th New York State Legislature as a member of the State Assembly. During that year, he was elected chairman of his uncle Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive "Bull Moose" Party in New York, a position he held until 1914.

Between 1917 and 1918, Robinson served as a Republican member of the New York State Senate representing the 32nd District. In 1918, he was campaign manager for Merton E. Lewis during his attempt to secure the Republican nomination for governor of New York. The effort was unsuccessful, and Lewis lost to Charles S. Whitman, who was defeated in the general election by Al Smith. Later in 1918, Robinson enlisted in the United States Army, becoming an officer at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky.

Robinson returned to the New York State Senate, serving again from 1921 to 1924, representing the 35th District in the 144th through 147th New York State Legislatures. His legislative efforts included introducing bills related to stray cats, census procedures, and the revocation of the German American Alliance branch in New York. In 1921, alongside Assemblyman Joseph Steinberg, he participated in an investigation into New York City Mayor John Francis Hylan.

In November 1924, Robinson was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President Calvin Coolidge, succeeding his cousin Theodore Roosevelt III. He served in this position until 1929. During his tenure, he altered the Navy's slogan from "Join the Navy and See the World" to "Join the Navy and Show the World."

Robinson married Helen Rebecca Roosevelt in 1904. She was his sixth cousin and the daughter of James "Rosey" Roosevelt Roosevelt and Helen Schermerhorn Astor of the Astor family. Rosey Roosevelt was a half-brother of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The couple had six children: Douglas Roosevelt Robinson, Helen Rebecca Robinson, Elizabeth Mary Robinson, Martha Douglas Robinson, Alida Douglas Robinson, and another unnamed child who died in 1912.

Robinson resided in Herkimer County, New York, at the family estate called "Henderson House," which had been owned by his family since 1725. He died of pneumonia on April 10, 1934, after a brief illness. His funeral was held at the family estate and attended by notable figures, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and members of the Roosevelt family.

Throughout his life, Robinson was a member of various organizations, including the Masons, the Elks, the Harvard Club, the Union League, and several social and golf clubs, such as the Racquet and Tennis Club and the Meadow Brook Golf Club.