Robert Allen New (1789 – June 20, 1856) was an American soldier and politician who served as the 1st non-Territorial Secretary of State of Indiana from November 7, 1816 to December 6, 1825.
[1][2] Robert New’s father was Jethro New, a Continental Army soldier from Delaware who moved first to North Carolina and then to Owen County, Kentucky, near New Liberty, in 1794.
He served in the administrations of Governors Jonathan Jennings, Ratliff Boon, William Hendricks, and James B. Ray.
[2][3] In 1819, while serving as Secretary of State, New founded Corydon Seminary with local newspaper editor, R. W. Nelson.
[3] New was an associate and ally of Davis Floyd, a politician who was involved with the Burr conspiracy and the Indiana Canal Company.