# Robert Adams Jr. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_Adams_Jr. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_Adams_Jr..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adams_Jr. > Source revision: 1355056450 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1849–1906)}} {{For|other people with the same name|Robert Adams (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Robert Adams Jr. | image = Robert Adams Jr.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date|1849|02|26}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1906|06|01|1849|02|26}} | birth_place = [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), U.S. | death_place = [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), U.S. | death_cause = [Suicide by gunshot](/source/Suicide_by_gunshot) | resting_place = [Laurel Hill Cemetery](/source/Laurel_Hill_Cemetery), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | state = [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) | district = [2nd](/source/Pennsylvania's_2nd_congressional_district) | term_start = December 19, 1893 | term_end = June 1, 1906 | preceded = [Charles O'Neill](/source/Charles_O'Neill_(Pennsylvania_politician)) | succeeded = [John Reyburn](/source/John_E._Reyburn) | title2 = [United States Minister to Brazil](/source/United_States_Ambassador_to_Brazil) | term_start2 = July 20, 1889 | term_end2 = March 1, 1890 | president2 = [Benjamin Harrison](/source/Benjamin_Harrison) | predecessor2 = [Thomas Jarvis](/source/Thomas_J._Jarvis) | successor2 = [Edwin Conger](/source/Edwin_H._Conger) | state_senate3 = Pennsylvania | district3 = [6th](/source/Pennsylvania_Senate%2C_District_6) | term_start3 = January 2, 1883{{cite book|editor=Sharon Trostle| title = The Pennsylvania Manual| publisher = [Pennsylvania Department of General Services](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_General_Services) | year = 2009| location =[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania](/source/Harrisburg%2C_Pennsylvania)| url = http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_8486_1294_244739_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_general_government_operations/dgs/community_content/publications_and_media_services/subcommunities/publications/portlets/pa_manual___home/vol_119___entire_manual.pdf| volume = 119| isbn = 978-0-8182-0334-3}} | term_end3 = June 12, 1885 | constituency3 = | predecessor3 = [A. Wilson Norris](/source/A._Wilson_Norris) | successor3 = [Boies Penrose](/source/Boies_Penrose) | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) | alma_mater = [University of Pennsylvania](/source/University_of_Pennsylvania) }} '''Robert Adams Jr.''' (February 26, 1849 – June 1, 1906) was an American diplomat and politician from [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) who served as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [U.S. House of Representatives](/source/U.S._House_of_Representatives) for [Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district](/source/Pennsylvania's_2nd_congressional_district) from 1893 to 1906. He served as the United States Minister to Brazil from 1889 to 1890 and as a member of the [Pennsylvania State Senate](/source/Pennsylvania_State_Senate) for the [6th district](/source/Pennsylvania_Senate%2C_District_6) from 1883 to 1885. ==Early life and education== Adams was born in [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), to Robert and Matilda Maybin Hart Adams.{{harvnb|Johnson|1906|p=52}} In 1869, he graduated from the [University of Pennsylvania](/source/University_of_Pennsylvania){{cite web |title=Pennsylvania State Senate - Robert Adams, Jr Biography |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=2474&body=S |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |access-date=13 July 2022}} and was a member of [St. Anthony Hall](/source/St._Anthony_Hall). He then attended Doctor Fairies Physical Institute in Philadelphia. He studied law under George W. Biddle and was admitted to the bar in 1872 but never practiced law. ==Career== He was a member of the [United States Geological Survey](/source/United_States_Geological_Survey) during the [explorations](/source/Hayden_Geological_Survey_of_1871) of [Yellowstone National Park](/source/Yellowstone_National_Park), from 1871 to 1875. Adams served as a member of the National Guards of Pennsylvania, from 1881 to 1895, serving as judge-advocate and [major](/source/Major_(rank)), also on start duty, and as a member of the [Pennsylvania State Senate](/source/Pennsylvania_State_Senate), from 1883 to 1887. He was an [aide-de-camp](/source/aide-de-camp) on the staff of Governor [Beaver of Pennsylvania](/source/Beaver%2C_Pennsylvania) with the rank of [lieutenant-colonel](/source/lieutenant-colonel) in 1885. [[File:Robert Adams Jr. Gravestone.jpg|thumb|upright|Robert Adams Jr. Gravestone in [Laurel Hill Cemetery](/source/Laurel_Hill_Cemetery), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] On April 10, 1880, Adams participated in a [duel](/source/duel) against Dr. James William White. Both Adams and White were members of [First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry](/source/First_Troop_Philadelphia_City_Cavalry); White wanted permission to wear the distinctive uniform of the Troop while he saw patients. Adams criticized White, and soon the two agreed to duel. They traveled to Maryland for the affair of honor. Both men fired at 15 paces, but neither man struck his mark and the affair ended without injury. At a meeting years later, Adams asked White, "You fired in the air, didn't you?" White said he did. Adams responded, "I didn't. I fired at you."{{cite web|last1=Rowan|first1=Tommy|title=1880: Philly surgeon and soldier duel with pistols over fashion statement|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/1880-Philly-surgeon-and-soldier-duel-with-pistols-over-fashion-statement.html|website=Philly.com|date=December 2016 |access-date=2 December 2016}} He was appointed [United States Minister](/source/United_States_Minister) to [Brazil](/source/Brazil) on April 1, 1889, and served until June 1, 1890, when he resigned. He was elected to Congress as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) to fill the vacancy caused by the death of [Charles O'Neill](/source/Charles_O'Neill_(Pennsylvania_politician)) on December 19, 1893. He then served as a Republican representative from the 2nd Pennsylvania district in the congresses [53rd](/source/53rd_Congress), [54th](/source/54th_Congress) and [55th](/source/55th_Congress), when acting chairman of the committee on [foreign affairs](/source/foreign_affairs) and reported the [Cuba](/source/Cuba)n resolutions and the declaration of war against [Spain](/source/Spain). He was re-elected to the [56th](/source/56th_Congress), [57th](/source/57th_Congress) and [58th](/source/58th_Congress) congresses also from the 2nd Pennsylvania district, serving until his death, and was a member of various committees, while he contributed to periodicals and lectured. ==Death== Adams killed himself in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), on June 1, 1906, by shooting himself after heavy losses in stock speculation.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9900E7DF1E3EE733A25751C0A9609C946797D6CF|title=Congressman a Suicide After Losses at Bridge; Stocks, Too, Had Gone Against Robert Adams Jr. Planned End 2 Weeks Ago – Had Just Paid His Debts to Society Women – "Bridge Whist" Should Be His Epitaph, Says a Colleague. Congressman a Suicide After Losses at Bridge|work=The New York Times|date=June 2, 1906|access-date=August 30, 2009}} He is interred at the [Laurel Hill Cemetery](/source/Laurel_Hill_Cemetery) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/8315?current_search_qs=%3Fid%3D33059%26PreviousSearch%3DSearch%252cLastName%252c%252c%252c%252c%252cFalse%252cFalse%252cFalse%252c%252cLastName%26CurrentPage%3D2%26SortOrder%3DLastName%26ResultType%3DGrid%26Command%3D4 US House of Representatives] ==Personal life== Adams was elected a member of the follow societies: * [Historical Society of Pennsylvania](/source/Historical_Society_of_Pennsylvania) * [Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution](/source/Sons_of_the_Revolution) * [Society of the War of 1812](/source/General_Society_of_the_War_of_1812) * [Society of Colonial Wars](/source/Society_of_Colonial_Wars) * [Society of the Cincinnati](/source/Society_of_the_Cincinnati) ==See also== *[List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1900–1949)](/source/List_of_members_of_the_United_States_Congress_who_died_in_office_(1900%E2%80%931949)) ==References== {{reflist}} ==Sources== * {{BDA1906 |wstitle= Adams, Robert |volume= 1 |page=52 |short=}} * {{CongBio|A000044|Robert Adams}} {{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{succession box | title = [United States Minister to Brazil](/source/United_States_Ambassador_to_Brazil) | before = [Thomas Jarvis](/source/Thomas_J._Jarvis) | after = [Edwin Conger](/source/Edwin_H._Conger) | years = 1889–1890 }} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{US House succession box | state=Pennsylvania | district=2 | before=[Charles O'Neill](/source/Charles_O'Neill_(Pennsylvania_politician)) | years=1893–1906 | after=[John Reyburn](/source/John_E._Reyburn) }} {{s-par|us-pa-sen}} {{succession box|title= Member of the [Pennsylvania Senate](/source/Pennsylvania_Senate) for the [6th district](/source/Pennsylvania_Senate%2C_District_6)|before=[A. Wilson Norris](/source/A._Wilson_Norris)|after=[Boies Penrose](/source/Boies_Penrose)|years=1883–1885}} {{s-end}} {{Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania}} {{US Ambassadors to Brazil}} {{Yellowstone history}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Pennsylvania|Politics}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Robert Jr.}} Category:1849 births Category:1906 suicides Category:19th-century American diplomats Category:19th-century American lawyers Category:19th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Category:19th-century United States representatives Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Brazil Category:American duellists Category:American lawyers admitted to the practice of law by reading law Category:American politicians who died by suicide Category:Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia) Category:Explorers of the United States Category:Pennsylvania lawyers Category:Politicians from Philadelphia Category:Republican Party United States representatives from Pennsylvania Category:Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators Category:Suicides by firearm in Washington, D.C. Category:Wharton School alumni Category:Yellowstone National Park Category:1906 deaths --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Adams Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adams_Jr.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adams_Jr.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.