William Randall ROBERTS, Congress, NY (1830-1897)

ROBERTS, William Randall, a Representative from New York; born in County Cork, Ireland, February 6, 1830; immigrated to the United States in July 1849; received a limited schooling; merchant in New York City until 1869 when he retired; president of the Fenian Brotherhood in 1865 and aided in the foray into Canada the following year, for which he was arrested by the Government; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1875); member of the board of aldermen of New York City in 1877; unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in 1879; appointed as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Chile by President Cleveland on April 2, 1885, and served until August 19, 1889; died in New York City on August 9, 1897; interment in Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, N.Y.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present