Mexican–American War John Cleveland Robinson (April 10, 1817 – February 18, 1897) was an American soldier in the United States Army.

In 1866, President Andrew Johnson made Robinson a brevet grade of major general in the regular army, which was approved by the U.S. Senate.

[2][3] Robinson traveled to Corpus Christi, Texas, in September 1845 to join General Winfield Scott and the Army of Occupation as a regimental and brigade quartermaster.

[1] In June 1846, Robinson was promoted to first lieutenant and served in the Mexican–American War, fighting with distinction in the Battle of Monterey.

[3] In 1856, Robinson went into combat again, serving in Florida during the Third Seminole War, where he furthered his military record of bravery and efficient services.

It was granted the March 6, 1859, Rocky Mountain #205 under dispensation from Missouri, and Robinson became the first Worshipful Master of the first Masonic lodges in Utah.

[2] Robinson was soon sent to Detroit as an army recruiting officer, and for a short time, assisted Governor William Dennison in raising troops in Columbus, Ohio.

[4] He was transferred soon afterwards to the Army of the Potomac, where he assumed command of a brigade in the division of Philip Kearny in the III Corps.

He and his men fought well on July 1, but eventually had to retire through the streets of the town under the pressure of overwhelming numbers.

He was again brevetted, this time to colonel in the regular army, for his efforts during the Mine Run Campaign and the 1864 Battle of the Wilderness.

According to the official citation, Robinson "placed himself at the head of the leading brigade in a charge upon the enemy's breastworks; was severely wounded".

[8] However, having been shot through the left knee and permanently disabled following its amputation at the thigh, Robinson never returned to field duty after Alsop's Farm.

Robinson remained in the army following the cessation of hostilities and was assigned command of the Freedmen's Bureau in Federally occupied North Carolina.

[1] Robinson, as with many leading political and social figures of his day, was a Freemason, becoming a member of Binghamton Lodge #177 and rising through its ranks.

He died at home on February 18, 1897, at the age of 79 and was buried at Spring Forest Cemetery in Binghamton, Broome County, New York.