Robert Roosevelt was born in New York City[3] to businessman Cornelius Van Schaack "C.V.S."

As an Oyster Bay Roosevelt, and through his ancestor Cornelius Van Schaack, Jr., he was a descendant of the Dutch American Schuyler family.

[4][self-published source][5] Roosevelt studied law and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1850.

[2] During the Civil War he was an active Democrat, and a founder of the Allotment Commission and the Loyal National League.

[6] His first experience in politics was in the organization of the Citizens' Association at the time of the Tweed Ring administration in New York city.

[2] In 1893, President Cleveland appointed him the secretary of the embassy in London in exchange for a $10,000 campaign contribution.

Robert's nephew Theodore Jr. credited him with being the first to scribe the "Br'er Rabbit" stories (which had been passed down orally by slaves), publishing them in Harper's, where they fell flat.

[16] After the death of his first wife in 1887,[17] he married his mistress, Irish immigrant Marion Theresa "Minnie" O'Shea.

[19] Together with Minnie, he was the father of:[18] Roosevelt died in Sayville, N.Y., on June 14, 1906, while his nephew was serving as President of the United States.