BIO: Robert Alexander LAMBERTON, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 304-305.
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  LAMBERTON, ROBERT ALEXANDER, son of Robert Lamberton, and Mary 
Harkness Lamberton, his wife, was born December 6, 1824, at Carlisle, 
Pa.  He graduated from Dickinson College June, 1843, being 
valedictorian of the class.  After teaching school two years he began 
the study of law in the office of James McCormick of Harrisburg and was 
admitted to the Dauphin county bar in August, 1848.  He soon acquired a 
wide reputation as an able and conscientious jurist.  On the breaking 
out of the Civil war Mr. Lamberton enlisted in the First regiment, 
Pennsylvania militia, of which he was commissioned lieutenant colonel.  
He served on Governor Curtin's staff at the time of Lee's invasion of 
the Cumberland Valley and Gettysburg, in 1863.  In 1873 he was chosen a 
member of the Constitutional Convention as a delegate at large.  In 
that distinguished body his abilities had marked attention in the 
various discussions therein.  He served on the committees on executive 
department, counties, townships, and boroughs.  Mr. Lamberton took high 
rank in the Masonic fraternity and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge 
of Pennsylvania from 1870 to 1871.  He also served in the highest 
offices in the Odd Fellows, of which he was a very prominent member.  
From 1871 for a period of twenty years, he served as secretary of the 
Diocesan Convention of Central Pennsylvania.  In 1880 the board of 
trustees of Lehigh University recognizing the executive ability and 
brilliant attainments of Mr. Lamberton offered him the presidency of 
that institution, which he accepted.  The same year the University of 
Pennsylvania conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws.  Dr. 
Lamberton's labors as president of Lehigh University for the period of 
thirteen years were crowned with marked success - an everlasting 
monument to his fidelity and ability as an educator.
  Apart from his duties as president of the University, Dr. Lamberton 
was a director of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company and trustee of 
estate of the late Asa Packer.  He was also a trustee of the State 
Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg, Pa., St. Luke's Hospital at South 
Bethlehem, and the Bishop Thorpe School for Young Ladies, and was a 
member of the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution.  Dr. 
Lamberton died suddenly in the midst of his usefulness, at South 
Bethlehem, on the evening of the 1st of September, 1893.  His remains 
were interred at Harrisburg.  He married, September 14, 1852, Annie, 
daughter of the late William Buehler, of Harrisburg.  Their children 
who survived him were William E., a member of the Dauphin county bar; 
James M., master at St. Paul's School, Concord, N.H., and Nannie, wife 
of Rollin H. Wilbur, of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company.