Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet
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Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet (1703–1777), of Rokeby,
Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...
, was an English politician who sat in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
from 1727 to 1734 and was a Governor of Barbados. He was an architect, collector and an extravagant character, whose life was the inspiration for numerous anecdotes.


Early life

Robinson was eldest son and heir of William Robinson (bapt. Rokeby, Yorkshire, 23 September 1675, d. 24 February 1720), who married, in 1699, Anne, daughter and heiress of Robert Walters of Cundall in
Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...
; she died on 26 July 1730, aged 53, and was buried in the centre of the south aisle of Merton church,
Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
, where a marble monument was placed to her memory. Sir Thomas, her son, also erected on the old Roman highway, near Rokeby, an
obelisk An obelisk (; , diminutive of (') ' spit, nail, pointed pillar') is a tall, slender, tapered monument with four sides and a pyramidal or pyramidion top. Originally constructed by Ancient Egyptians and called ''tekhenu'', the Greeks used th ...
in her honour. Another son was Richard, 1st Baron Rokeby,
Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...
Primate of All Ireland The Primacy of Ireland belongs to the diocesan bishop of the Irish diocese with highest precedence. The Archbishop of Armagh is titled Primate of All Ireland and the Archbishop of Dublin Primate of Ireland, signifying that they are the senior ...
and
Archbishop of Armagh The Archbishop of Armagh is an Episcopal polity, archiepiscopal title which takes its name from the Episcopal see, see city of Armagh in Northern Ireland. Since the Reformation in Ireland, Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic success ...
. After finishing his education, Robinson went on the Grand Tour, paying attention to architecture in Greece and Italy, and the school of
Palladio Andrea Palladio ( , ; ; 30 November 1508 – 19 August 1580) was an Italian Renaissance architect active in the Venetian Republic. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily Vitruvius, is widely considered to be one ...
. On returning to England he purchased a commission in the army, but resigned it in favour of his brother Septimus.


Politics and architecture

At the
1727 British general election The 1727 British general election returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 7th Parliament of Great Britain to be summoned, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was trigg ...
Robinson was returned as Member of Parliament for Morpeth, through the influence of George Bowes. He was a supporter of the Whig government of
Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (; 26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745), known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig statesman who is generally regarded as the ''de facto'' first Prim ...
. Seeing no prospect of being returned at Morpeth at the
1734 British general election The 1734 British general election returned members to serve in the House of Commons of Great Britain, House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Great Britain to be summoned, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scot ...
, he sought a seat in Cornwall, but without success. He made some long speeches in Parliament. They included one which, according to
Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (; 24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English Whig politician, writer, historian and antiquarian. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twickenham, southwest London ...
, he was supposed to have found among the papers of his wife's first husband. Robinson was created a baronet on 10 March 1731, with remainder to his brothers and to Matthew Robinson, and from November 1735 to February 1742 he was a commissioner of excise. He became a Fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...
in 1735. Robinson's expenditure was extravagant. He rebuilt Rokeby Hall at
Rokeby Park Rokeby Park is a country house in the Palladian style in the civil parish of Rokeby, County Durham, Rokeby, in Northern England. It is close to the confluence of the River Tees and River Greta, Durham, River Greta, near Greta Bridge in what is n ...
, the name of which he changed from Rookby. He enclosed the park with a stone wall (1725–30), and planted many forest trees (1730). These acts were recorded in 1737, in two Latin inscriptions on two marble tables, fixed in the two stone piers at the entrance to the park from Greta Bridge. He practically made the place of which
Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...
wrote in his poem '' Rokeby'', and built the great bridge which spans the
River Tees The River Tees (), in England, rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines and flows eastwards for to reach the North Sea in the North East of England. The modern-day history of the river has been tied with the industries ...
there. In London, Robinson threw balls aimed at the people in power and in fashion; and ruined himself. Horace Walpole gave an account of his ball for a daughter of the
Duke of Richmond Duke of Richmond is a title in the Peerage of England that has been created four times in British history. It has been held by members of the royal Tudor and Stuart families. The current dukedom of Richmond was created in 1675 for Charles ...
in October 1741. There were two hundred guests invited. A second ball was given by him on 2 December 1741, when six hundred persons were invited and two hundred attended.


In Barbados

The state of Robinson's finances brought about his expatriation. Lord Lincoln coveted his house at
Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It ...
, and secured for him in January 1742 the post of governor of Barbados. It is not certain whether the Duke coveted the house or the
socialite A socialite is a person, typically a woman from a wealthy or aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having ...
the Lady Townshend who rented one half it. Arriving in Barbados on 8 August 1742, Robinson had trouble with his assembly, which raised difficulties about voting for his salary. Without consulting the house, he ordered changes in his residence at Pilgrim, and he undertook the construction of an armoury and arsenal. He had to pay most of the charges out of his own pocket. Another quarrel was over the command of the forces on the island. Eventually, a petition was sent home which resulted in Robinson's recall on 14 April 1747.


Later life

On his return to the
Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain, also known as the Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in Western Europe from 1707 to the end of 1800. The state was created by the 1706 Treaty of Union and ratified by the Acts of Union 1707, which united the Kingd ...
, Robinson again gave balls and breakfasts, and among the breakfasts was one to the Princess of Wales. In a note to William Mason's ''Epistle to Shebbeare'', he is dubbed "the Petronius of the present age", referencing the ''
Satyricon The ''Satyricon'', ''Satyricon'' ''liber'' (''The Book of Satyrlike Adventures''), or ''Satyrica'', is a Latin work of fiction believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius in the late 1st century AD, though the manuscript tradition identifi ...
''. He became a member of the
Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...
in 1755, and was active there in recruitment and administration. Robinson acquired shares in Ranelagh Gardens, and became the director of the entertainments; his knowledge of the fashionable world then proved of use. He built for himself a house called Prospect Place, adjoining the gardens, and gave magnificent feasts. At the coronation of George III, on 22 September 1761, the last occasion on which the dukes of Normandy and Aquitaine were represented by deputies as doing homage to the king of England, Robinson acted as Normandy, walking "in proper mantle" next to the
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...
. Robinson was forced in 1769 to dispose of
Rokeby Park Rokeby Park is a country house in the Palladian style in the civil parish of Rokeby, County Durham, Rokeby, in Northern England. It is close to the confluence of the River Tees and River Greta, Durham, River Greta, near Greta Bridge in what is n ...
, which had been in the possession of his family since 1610, to John Sawrey Morritt, the father of John Bacon Sawrey Morritt. Anna Eliza Bray wrote of his fondness for "books, the fine arts, music, and refined society", and mentions the weakness of his eyes. At last, he became blind, and her father used to read to him.


Death and reputation

Robinson died at his house at Chelsea on 3 March 1777, aged 76, without leaving legitimate issue, and was buried in the southeast corner of the chancel of Merton church, a monument being placed there to his memory. A second monument was erected for him in
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
, about 1778, with two portrait busts by John Walsh, commemorating also his first wife. Robinson's reputation was as a "specious, empty man", with a talent for flattery. He was tall and thin, while his contemporary of the same name Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham was short and fat. "I can't imagine", said the witty Lady Townshend, "why one is preferred to the other. The one is as broad as the other is long".


Legacy

Robinson designed, for his wife's brother, the west wing of
Castle Howard Castle Howard is an English country house in Henderskelfe, North Yorkshire, north of York. A private residence, it has been the home of the Earl of Carlisle, Carlisle branch of the House of Howard, Howard family for more than 300 years. Castle ...
. Later in life he and Welbore Ellis persuaded Sir William Stanhope to "improve"
Alexander Pope Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S. – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early ...
's garden. Among Robinson's other works are parts of Ember Court,
Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
, then the residence of the Onslows, the new parish church at Glynde in
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
, and the Gothic gateway at
Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish at the confluence of the River Wear and the River Gaunless in County Durham, England. It is northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham, England, Durham. M ...
in Durham. He worked also on
Claydon House Claydon House is a country house in the Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, England, near the village of Middle Claydon. It was built between 1757 and 1771 and is now owned by the National Trust. The house is a listed Grade I on the National He ...
for The 2nd Earl of Verney, a business associate through Ranelagh Gardens. Robinson left his brother
William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...
his title but not his estates. His other brother,
Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
Lord Rokeby, had his books, including those on architecture and antiquities. Robinson and Lord Chesterfield maintained a correspondence for fifty years, and he kept all the letters and copies. At his death he left them to an apothecary who had married his natural daughter, with instructions to publish; but Robinson's brother, Archbishop Lord Rokeby, stopped the publication. Sir John Hawkins recorded in his ''Life of Johnson'' that when Chesterfield wanted to appease
Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
, he employed Robinson as his mediator.


Family

On 25 October 1728 Robinson married, at Belfrey's, York, Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of
Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, PC (c. 1669 – 1 May 1738) was a British nobleman, peer, and statesman. Charles Howard was the eldest son of Edward Howard, 2nd Earl of Carlisle, and inherited his title on the death of his father in 169 ...
, and widow of Nicholas Lechmere, 1st Baron Lechmere. His first wife died at
Bath, Somerset Bath (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ) is a city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman Baths (Bath), Roman-built baths. At the 2021 census, the population was 94,092. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, Bristol, River A ...
on 10 April 1739, and was buried in the family vault under the new church of Rokeby. He married at Barbados a second wife, whose maiden name was Booth; she was the widow of Samuel Salmon, a rich ironmonger. She declined to follow Robinson back to England.


References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Thomas, 1st Baronet 1703 births 1777 deaths Architects from Yorkshire Baronets in the Baronetage of Great Britain British MPs 1727–1734 English art collectors Governors of Barbados Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London Whig (British political party) MPs for English constituencies