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George D. Robinson

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Attorney

The Resume

    (January 20, 1834-February 22, 1896)
    Born in Lexington, Massachusetts
    Birth name is George Washington Robinson
    Governor of Massachusetts (January 3, 1884 – January 6, 1887)
    Represented Massachusetts' 11th district (1877 – 83) and 12th district (1883 – 84) in the House of Representatives
    Member of the Massachusetts Senate (1876)
    Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1874)
    Famous as Lizzie Borden's defense attorney during her 1892 murder trial

Why he might be annoying:

    He legally changed his middle name to 'Dexter,' supposedly after learning someone shared the same name as his.
    He was criticized for defending fraudulent fraternal benefit societies.
    He aligned with his state's industrial leaders against public health advocates.
    As Lizzie Borden's attorney, he encouraged her to both dress and behave in a hyper-feminine manner to both sway the jury and win the media's support.
    His addition to Borden's defense team would today be seen as a gross conflict of interest, given that while governor, he appointed the case's presiding judge to the bench.
    He was able to get Borden's inconsistent inquest testimony - deemed by many the case's smoking gun - excluded from the criminal trial on the grounds that she had no consultation at the time (these were the days before police officers read people their Miranda Rights).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He taught high school before becoming a lawyer.
    He defeated incumbent Benjamin Franklin Butler in a shocking upset win.
    As governor, he promoted civil service reform legislation and labor-friendly wage/dispute-resolution laws.
    As governor, he banned discrimination in the issuance of life insurance policies.
    He declined appointment offers from two consecutive Presidents (Grover Cleveland in 1887, and Benjamin Harrison in 1889).
    He was one of the first lawyers to understand the power of publicity and public opinion (thereby making him one of the first 'celebrity attorneys').

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying