William Robinson, Jr.



William Robinson Jr. (17 December 1785 – 25 February 1868) was a politician and businessman from Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now the North Side of Pittsburgh. He was the first mayor of Allegheny and a state legislator. He went by the title of General, which he acquired in the Pennsylvania Militia.

Early life
Robinson was born on 17 December 1785 in a log cabin in the area soon to become Allegheny. He was reputedly the first white child born west of the Allegheny River. The son of settler James Robinson, William was called Junior to distinguish him from an uncle of the same name. After schooling at Pittsburgh Academy and Princeton, he read law under ex-senator James Ross, but did not go on to practice the profession.

In 1806, on a trip down the Ohio River, the young Robinson and several companions were detained on suspicion of taking part in the Aaron Burr conspiracy to found a Southwestern empire. They were released as nothing treasonous could be proven against them.

Business
Robinson managed a number of companies over his lifetime. He was the first president of the Allegheny Bridge Company, which built a bridge over the Allegheny River at what is now Sixth Street. Opened in 1819, the bridge was the first to cross the Allegheny at Pittsburgh. Robinson was the first president of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad, which became part of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway, a major component of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. He served for 16 years as the first president of the Exchange Bank of Pittsburgh. He was also partner in one of the area's early rolling mills.

Politics
Robinson was elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving from 1833 to 1834. When Allegheny borough became a city in 1840, Robinson, then a Whig, became its first mayor. His other positions in the Allegheny government included treasurer, assessor, and president of Select Council. According to one historian, Robinson was more able than popular; his political aspirations were hampered by his "haughty and dictatorial" manner.



Mexican War Streets
The Mexican War Streets neighborhood, originally called Buena Vista, was established by Robinson on part of his extensive land inheritance from his father. He laid out the plan in 1847 during the Mexican–American War, naming the streets for the war's battles and leaders. Contrary to legend, he saw no active service in the conflict.

Death and legacy
Robinson died on 25 February 1868 and was buried at Allegheny Cemetery. He is commemorated on the North Side of Pittsburgh by General Robinson Street, which runs through his father's original farm. At the end of the 20th century, many artifacts from Robinson Jr.'s estate were unearthed at the construction site of PNC Park.