Robert Yates | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court | |
| In office 1790–1798 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Morris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 27, 1738 Schenectady, Province of New York, British America |
| Died | September 9, 1801 (aged 63) Albany, New York, United States |
| Political party | Anti-Federalist |
| Spouse |
Sarah Ludlow
(m. 1759; died 1791) |
| Relations | Abraham Yates Jr. (uncle) Peter Waldron Yates (cousin) |
| Children | 6, including John |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Yates Maria Dunbar Yates |
Robert Yates (January 27, 1738 – September 9, 1801) was an American politician, attorney, jurist, and surveyor. As a delegate representing New York at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Yates is considered a Founding Father of the United States. Best known as a leader of the Anti-Federalist movement, he was the presumed author of political essays published in 1787-1788 under the pseudonyms "Brutus" and "Sydney". The essays opposed the Constitution based on the scope of the national government and the diminished sovereignty of the states. Yates also served as chief justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1790 to 1798.