politics Roberts was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat twice, to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871 – March 4, 1875). As a congressman, Roberts criticised the Republican government for its policy towards the former confederate states, opposed the increasing power of railroad barons, advocated for greater protection for American citizens living in foreign countries (with Fenians imprisoned in Canada in mind), supported civil rights for black people and was critical of British foreign policy. His finances prevented him from seeking further re-election to that office, but after his time in the House he was a member of the board of aldermen of New York City in 1877 and was an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in 1879. y. In 1882 Roberts supported Grover Cleveland for the governorship of New York as well as Cleveland's 1884 successful bid for the US presidency. As a reward, Roberts was appointed as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Chile by now President Cleveland on April 2, 1885, serving until August 19, 1889. He was succeeded in the position by Patrick Egan, a fellow Irishman and also a former member of the IRB. Roberts' term as Envoy to Chile had been cut short when he suffered a paralytic stroke in May 1888. Roberts returned to a New York City hospital for medical care, but was never able to recover his health and died nine years later on 9 August 1897. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York. He was survived by a wife and son, but whom he had been separated from before his stroke. References 1830 births 1897 deaths 19th-century American diplomats Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Queens) Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923) Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood People of the Fenian raids Politicians from County Cork Politicians from New York City Ambassadors of the United States to Chile Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 19th-century American politicians American activists for Irish independence