| 1778 | Born in Prince George county, Virginia to William and Elizabeth Bolling Robertson. His grandfather, Archibald Robertson emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland to Virginia in 1735. One brother, John becomes Atty. general and Chancellor of Virginia and another, Wyndham, is governor of Virginia in 1836. |
| 1797 | Graduates from College of William and Mary and begins practicing law. |
| 1805 | August 12; arrives in the Territory of Orleans as a lawyer
and soon after is named Attorney General by William
C. C. Claiborne. Also named federal land commissioner of eastern Orleans
Territory. He makes his home on the Montesano Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, five miles above Baton Rouge. |
| 1807 | August 12; Appointed Secretary of the territory by President Jefferson. |
| 1808 | March 8 - Sept. 3; serves as acting United States District Attorney for the territory for five months putting him in a position of confrontation with Governor William C. C. Claiborne. |
| 1810-1812 | Secretary of State of Louisiana |
| 1812 | Elected as the first State Representative to Congress. He supports a sugar tariff that protects this industry that is important to Louisiana. |
| 1813-1819 | U. S. Representative from Louisiana His opponent in this election is Henry S. Johnson |
| 1818 | Declines re-election to Congress to prepare for the 1820 gubernatorial election. |
| 1819-1821 | Louisiana State Attorney General |
| 1820-1824 | Governor of Louisiana. His administration does little to bring the Americans and the Creoles closer together. During his term Robertson’s attitudes are seen as callous and his inaction in the face of criticism is taken as ineptness. he supports John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and promotes Latin American independence. |
| 1823 | During his administration Robertson makes a first attempt to move the capital to Baton Rouge. Robertson vetoes a usury bill that is said to favor the Americans. |
| 1823-1825 | Riots are started by Americans in the militia who refused to obey the orders of unnaturalized Creole officers, adding to general turmoil between the two populations. Robertson does little to quell the crowds. |
| 1824 | November; With civil unrest rampant and his popularity plummeting Robertson resigns to accept a federal district judgeship vacated by the death of John Dick. Appointed by President Monroe. |
| 1828 | October 5; After a long illness forces him to resign the judgeship he travels to White Sulphur Springs, Virginia and dies there. |