Fort Nashborough
In the spring of 1779, he and John Donelson founded Fort Nashborough, later to become Nashville, then part of North Carolina. He represented Davidson County (home of Fort Nashborough in present-day Tennessee, not to be confused with the modern Davidson County, North Carolina), in the North Carolina legislature and had the settlement established as a town, and also established the first school there, Davidson Academy.
Robertson was offered peace and the free navigation of the Mississippi River by the Spanish governor, in exchange for his leaving the United States and establishing — along with the Watauga settlement and Kentucky — an independent government. He refused to consider the matter. In 1790, he was appointed brigadier-general of the territorial militia by U.S. President George Washington, and his military services did not end until 1796. He shared with Sevier the honor and affection of Tennesseans, and he held the post of Indian commissioner until his death in 1814.
Robertson is buried in Nashville City Cemetery.
In World War II the United States liberty ship SS James Robertson was named in his honor.
Read more about this topic: James Robertson (explorer)
Famous quotes containing the word fort:
“Superstition? Who can define the boundary line between the superstition of yesterday and the scientific fact of tomorrow?”
—Garrett Fort (1900–1945)