Twenty seventh Governor of New South Wales.

Born in Ireland.

Told Sir Henry Parkes that he would not be a figurehead particularly at a time when colonial politics was unstable.

Saw New South Wales as a crown colony rather than a semi-independent democracy.

Felt that a confederation would occur between the colonies with New South Wales at the centre and Sydney the metropolis.

Had two major conflicts with Parkes’ government. The first was the Rossi case where Robinson believed that the Legislative Assembly could not interfere with the Volunteer Defence Forces of which the Governor was commander in chief. The parliament criticized the Governor’s views as an attack on the Assembly’s powers and privileges.

The government survived a censure motion and the governor received popular support. The second was his release of the bushranger Frank Gardiner.

As Governor he had the right of mercy in non-capital cases and he approved Gardiner’s release subject to exile. This was not a popular move but Robinson dismissed it as ‘unreasonable and unjust clamour’. Parkes’ ministry fell in November, 1874 after assertions that Robinson had not only slighted parliament but opposed the right of petition. Robinson was accused of acting as if New South Wales did not have a responsible government.

By 1875 the Governor did not exercise independently of his ministers the right of mercy to convicted criminals.

Believed that the government of New South Wales was paralysed due to the colonial practice of voting supply in instalments. He noted that in twenty one years of responsible government only two Appropriation Acts had been passed on time. His remedy was to refuse dissolutions unless supply was guaranteed.

He left New South Wales in 1879 to become governor of New Zealand.

He died in 1879 after returning to England from South Africa.