Robert Henry Whitelaw (January 30, 1854 – July 27, 1937) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. Born on a farm near

Lloyds, Virginia Lloyds is an unincorporated community in Essex County, Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regi ...

, Whitelaw moved with his father to

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri Cape Girardeau County (commonly called Cape County) is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri; its eastern border is formed by the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 81,710. The county seat is J ...

, in 1856. He returned to

Essex County, Virginia Essex County is a County (United States), county located in the Middle Peninsula in the U.S. state of Virginia; the peninsula is bordered by the Rappahannock River on the north and King and Queen County, Virginia, King and Queen County on the s ...

, in 1866. He attended private schools in Tappahannock and Staunton, Virginia, and the law department of the

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced practice in

Cape Girardeau, Missouri Cape Girardeau ( , ; colloquially referred to as "Cape") is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Cape Girardeau and Scott County, Missouri, Scott Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the ...

. City attorney in 1873. He served as prosecuting attorney of Cape Girardeau County in 1874–1878. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1883 and 1887. Whitelaw was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Fifty-first Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of

James P. Walker James Peter Walker (March 14, 1851 – July 19, 1890) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri. Early years Born near Memphis, Tennessee, Walker attended the public schools and the boys' college at Durhamville, Tennessee. Career He was employed ...

and served from November 4, 1890, to March 3, 1891. He was not a candidate for election in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress. He resumed the practice of law in

. He retired from active law practice in 1927 and moved to

Blodgett, Missouri Blodgett is a village in Scott County, Missouri, United States. The population was 213 at the 2010 census. History Blodgett was settled as early as 1869. A post office called Blodgett has been in operation since 1870. The community has the name ...

, and in 1934 to

Blytheville, Arkansas Blytheville is one of two county seat, county seats of and the largest city in Mississippi County, Arkansas, Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. It is approximately north of West Memphis, Arkansas, West Memphis. The population was 13,40 ...

, where he died on July 27, 1937. He was interred in Lorimier Cemetery,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitelaw, Robert Henry 1854 births 1937 deaths University of Michigan Law School alumni Democratic Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives