Robin Williams' Great-Great Grandpa was a big deal

Many people don't know that the late, great comedian and actor Robin Williams had a great-great grandfather who was a famous politician.

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Sure, you probably already know that Robin Williams is one of the greatest actors and comedians of all time.

But did you know that his middle name was McLaurin? It’s a…uh…weird middle name, but it was his mom’s maiden name. (turns) Oh by the way…his mom’s great grandfather was a well-known U.S. Senator and governor.

Yep, Robin William’s great-great grandpa was Anselm McLaurin, the 34th Governor of Mississippi who also represented the state in the U.S. Senate during the Progressive Era. His big issue was trying to create inflation with an easy money policy, baby. He also railed against railroad corporations (pun not intended there), arguing they should be taxed more.

But the most interesting fact about Robin Williams’s great-great grandfather was probably that, at the age of 16, he enlisted to fight for the Confederate army during the Civil War and became well-known for his bravery during it.

[JoshuaDHSW]

That is WEIRD how much Robin Williams looks like his Great-Great Grandfather. Like, the resemblance is uncanny

[pridelander]

Wonder how he would have felt knowing his great great grandson would portray Teddy Roosevelt in a film.

[melissasaint]

He married a woman named Laura .
Laura McLaurin.
She must have really loved him to do that to herself.

[georgewashington]

On a similar note, Alexander Hamilton's great-great-grandfather was John Napier, the famous Scottish mathematician who discovered logarithms

[ProfessorDreamer]

Mr.Beat who knew that Robin William's heritage was far more influential and powerful than we thought.

[MrRezRising]

Anselm was known to improvise his way through filibusters for hours.
We should have seen it coming.

[williamjol]

Fun fact: American actor Keifer Sutherland is the maternal grandson of Canadian politician Tommy Douglas, the grandfather of Canada's Universal Healthcare system, the first leader of the NDP, and a former Premier of Saskatchewan

[Stopinvadingmyhardware]

He looked so much like his grandfather

[gladyslambert]

I won’t hold Robins G-G Grandpa against him. We don’t get to choose our relatives.

[AKAZA-kqjd]

So much as change between those generations at least the man that we're familiar with encourage people and I quote."Everyone fighting their own battle that most of us are unaware be kind always"

[destructiveblade]

Random fun fact: Robin Williams was incidentally roomates in college with Kevin Conroy, the recently deceased voice actor who played Batman for the better part of 20 years.

[melissasaint]

I like the way you have Robin slide out when the Confederacy is mentioned like "nnnnope, I don't claim him" 😂😂😂

[Trayxxxx]

I know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but that is some strong genes.

[speedshoes]

And to think the great-great-great granddaughter is named after a video game.

[veggiet]

He looked like him! He could have played him in a film!

[queenreg]

I like how you just put history out there as history, good, bad, or indifferent.

[surreal]

Pop culture plus politics info does serve good amusement with knowledge Mr.Beat.
Way to go 👍

[tina]

Robin Williams is a great and good grandpa for his

[slricksy]

Excellent video..learning something new each day and loving it! He does resemble his great great grampa!

[johnchessant]

Another interesting one: Kiefer Sutherland’s grandfather was Tommy Douglas, the premier of Saskatchewan who enacted the first single-payer healthcare system in Canada