William Parish Robertson

Other names/titles:
Gender: M
Ethnic origin: White

Biographical details

An English businessman who joined his brother John Parish Robertson in Latin America between 1807-1810s. He was in Asunción in 1815 where he attended the Méndez tertulias. When the Mendezes were sent into exile by Francia, Robertson supported them by safe-guarding their assets and ensuring that those who owed them money repaid their debts to him. He accompanied them for their first two days on their boat to exile to ensure they had all they needed. Robertson was himself expelled from Paraguay a few months later and he went to Corrientes. The brothers' Letters on Paraguay were published in 3 volumes in 1839. (Robertson)

William Robertson met Antonio and Encarnación Figueredo around 1815. She cultivated the Robertsons as she had blue eyes and thus "considered she had a better right to the friendship of ´los Ingleses rubios´ than any other person. We were accordingly very intimate with Mr and Mrs Figueredo, having a sort of passive and quiescent intercourse with one, and a more active and lively one with the other."

She asked William Robertson to become godfather to her three-day- old baby as it, too, had fair complexion and blue eyes. Robertson had mixed emotions, it would be "an onerous sought of burthen" but meant Encarnación de Figueredo held him in great esteem. He agreed. Three months later the baby died. Encarnación de Figueredo did not appear to be at all upset, rather she held a vigil that was more of a celebration. She explained to Robertson that her daughter had been converted into an angel, she was sorry Robertson was no longer her compadre, but he would become godfather to her next child. See below for the corresponding extract from his letter. (Robertson, 147-155)

Life Events

Other	1816	He travelled through Paraguay. He was expelled by Francia.
Other	1839	His Letters on Paraguay were published.

References

Robertson, John Parish and W. P., (1970), Letters on Paraguay

Publications

Book: Letters on Paraguay

Links

Resource id #23 (21)

Resource id #27 (127)

Resource id #31 (6)

Gendering Latin American Independence

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