Henry Martyn Robert (1837–1923) was an American Army general, engineer, and author, best known for Robert’s Rules of Order (1876,) the standard manual on parliamentary procedure in the United States.
Born in Robertville, South Carolina, he moved to Ohio due to his father’s opposition to slavery. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating fourth in his class (1857.) As a military engineer, he worked on Civil War fortifications, including defenses for Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New England ports.
Robert’s interest in parliamentary procedure began in 1862 when he presided over a disorderly church meeting, recognizing the need for uniform rules. He published Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies (1876,) later revised as Robert’s Rules of Order Revised for Deliberative Assemblies (1915.) His other influential works include Robert’s Parliamentary Practice (1921) and Parliamentary Law (1922.)
Beyond his literary contributions, Robert served as Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia (1890–91) and Chief of Engineers (1901.) He helped design the Galveston seawall after the 1900 hurricane.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Henry Martyn Robert
Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty.
—Henry Martyn Robert
Topics: Lawyers, Law
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