Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Andrews (1748 – 1804) was a Colonial/American clergyman, professor and Virginia politician.
Early life
Birth and family history
Son of Moses Andrews and Letitia Cooke, Robert Andrews was the great-grandson of John Andrews, who emigrated to Province of Maryland from the County of Rutland, England in 1654. He was born in the colony of Pennsylvania. He had four brothers, Moses Andrews, Rev. John Andrews, James Andrews and Polydore Andrews.
Education and ordination
Andrews graduated with an A.B. degree from the College of Philadelphia in 1768 and in 1772 went to London for ordination.
Career
As tutor
Andrews was a tutor for several years in the family of Mann Page, of Rosewell, Virginia.
As clergyman
He was one of the thirteen men, including only a handful of clergymen, to sign the agreement drawn up by eighty-nine former members of the House of Burgesses on May 27, 1774, recommending a general congress and a non-importation association.
As professor
In December 1777 he was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy at the College of William & Mary. When the college was reorganized in 1779, the Law of Nature and Nations and the Fine Arts were added to his teaching portfolio. He is considered the first college professor in the nation to have fine arts included in his professorship. He was also distinguished for his mathematical talents. In 1784 he was transferred to the mathematical professorship and retained his position as professor up to 1789.
Militia involvement
He became chaplain to the Virginia militia in 1777, serving until 1780. In 1781 he was private secretary to Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr.
As public official
Town
Andrews was elected to the Williamsburg, Virginia Committee of Safety in 1779, and soon afterward, an alderman.
State
Andrews was a delegate for James City County to the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788, which approved the United States Constitution. He represented Williamsburg in the Virginia House of Delegates 1790–1798. In 1798, he voted against the Virginia Resolution opposing the federal Alien and Sedition Acts.
U.S. government
He served with the Reverend James Madison (cousin to the fourth U.S. president) on the commission that established the final border between Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Marriage and family
He married, first, Elizabeth Ballard, and second, Mary Blair.