Blog no. 3

Dr. Felix Randolph Robertson was born to General James Randolph Robertson and Charlotte Reeves on January 11, 1781, in Freeland’s Station, which later became Nashville, TN. On the day Felix was born, James Randolph Robertson, his father, was in Boonesborough, Kentucky with Daniel Boone getting supplies to fight the Indians. By the time he had traveled back to Nashville, his wife had given birth to their son. Felix was the first white child born in Nashville, TN.

In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, Felix studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania where he was taught by a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Rush. 

On October 9, 1808, in Nashville, TN, Felix married Lydia Waters. Felix and Lydia had 8 children in their lifetime. One of Felix’s daughters, Eleanora Reeves Hennen, had a daughter who would later marry Civil War General John Bell Hood. Another one of Felix’s children, James Waters Robertson, would in 1836 fight and die at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1818, Felix became mayor of Nashville, TN until 1819. After he was mayor, in 1822, Felix went to Texas to help his cousin, Sterling Clack Robertson, with the Robertson’s Colony until 1826. When Felix returned to Nashville, TN in 1827, he was elected another term as mayor until 1829. 

After his two terms as mayor, Felix returned to being a full-time doctor. Felix was also a close friend of President Andrew Jackson and helped him in 1828 with his presidential campaign. After Andrew Jackson was president and after Felix was mayor, Felix became the former president’s personal doctor, possibly when Andrew Jackson had died.

On July 10, 1865, in Nashville, TN, Felix Randolph Robertson died. He was interred in Nashville City Cemetery, next to his wife, parents, and a couple siblings.

Some of the letters Felix wrote during his life can still be read today on ancestry.com and in some old books.