I have been asked many times — Why Robert’s Rules? How did he come up with the Parliamentary Procedure? To answer those questions I have pulled the following information from Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (Introduction beginning on page XXXV)

Henry Martyn Robert (1837—1923) was an engineering officer in the regular army—finally attaining the rank of Brigadier General as chief of his corps—who was active in church organizations and civic and educational work wherever he was stationed, as much as military duties allowed him time. His interest in parliamentary law had been precipitated in 1863 at New Bedford, Massachusetts where he had been transferred . He was asked to preside over a meeting, and did not know how. But he felt that the worst thing he could do would be to decline.” My embarrassment was supreme,” he wrote. “I plunged in, trusting to Providence that the assembly would behave itself. But with the plunge went the determination that I would never attend another meeting until I knew something of...parliamentary law.”

He studied Cushing’s Manual, the Congressional Manual, Jefferson’s Manual and Barclay’s Digest of Rules and Practice of the House.

After carefully reading these books he determined that it was not an easy matter to decide what was parliamentary law.

Robert decided to prepare a few rules of order—expected to run to about sixteen pages—which he hoped would be suitable for the societies that he and his wife belonged. If these rules were adopted each member could know which motions could be debated and amended and what vote would be required. When a few sheets had been printed, he began to try them out. The reception was encouraging.

Robert became convinced of the need for a new kind of parliamentary manual, “based, in its general principles, upon the rules and practice of Congress, and adapted, in its details, to the use of ordinary societies.” This detailed manual was to cover how to conduct meetings, duties of officer, names of motions.

Once he finished his manuscripted he could not find a publisher. He decided to have 4000 copies printed at his own expense. He expected that this number of copies would last for about two years. But the edition was sold out in four months.