Highway Marker Commemorating Donald Robertson’s School

On Saturday, August 17, a highway marker commemorating Donald Robertson’s School was placed at the junction of Newtown Road (Rt. 721) and Sorghum Road (Rt. 660) in King & Queen County between St. Stephen’s Church and Newtown (at the location of the old Owenton store). Peter G. Meyerhof, PhD, DDS, a resident of California, sponsored the sign and worked with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Transportation to place it.  When asked why he felt so strongly, he said that “while I was doing research for a comprehensive biography of Dr. Robert Semple who played several major roles in California history, I researched his mother Lucy Robertson Semple and then her father Donald Robertson.  I remember Caroline Gwathmey of your Society was very gracious in helping me.  Then in 2017 I had another opportunity to visit your archives and specifically research your materials on Donald Robertson.  It was already quite clear how important Donald Robertson truly was, not only to Madison, but to many other early Virginians who had attended his school, but it seemed that biographies of Madison and even my visit to Montpelier in that year had next to nothing to say about him…….”  Meyerholf felt strongly that Donald Robertson’s School should be remembered. He further noted, “He [Robertson] also represents perhaps one of the most inspiring examples of the value of school teachers – a concept that needs to be remembered in our society.”

At the unveiling, Meyerhof noted the significance of the school and its founder.  In addition, Ms. Jennifer Loux, from the Department of Historic Resources spoke about the Highway Marker Program and Ms. Ellen White, a King & Queen County Historical Society Board member, talked about the archeological investigation by the HS into the location of the school.  Ms. Elizabeth Chew, Ph.D., Vice President of Museum Programs at Montpelier, and Ms. Bethany Sullivan, Director of the James Madison Museum in Orange, conveyed the influence of the school on President Madison.  The marker reads:

Donald Robertson’s School

Donald Robertson (1717-1783), born and educated in Scotland, established a private boarding school on his farm two miles southwest of here by 1758.  Among his students were James Madison, fourth president of the United States and “Father of the Constitution,” and Brig. Gen George Rogers Clark, militia commander in the Old Northwest during the Revolutionary War.  Madison attended the school between the ages of 11 and 16 and later described Robertson as a “man of extensive learning, and a distinguished Teacher.”  Instructing both boys and girls, Robertson provided a classical education influenced by the Scottish Enlightenment.  He operated his highly respected school for at least 15 years.