Aubrey Robinson (Hawaii)
Encyclopedia
Aubrey Robinson was an owner of a sugarcane
plantation and a ranch consisting of an entire island in the Hawaiian Islands
.
on October 17, 1853. His father was Charles Barrington Robinson and mother was Helen Sinclair. His grandmother, Elizabeth McHutchison (1800–1892), also spelled McHutcheson, was born in Glasgow
, Scotland
, married Francis Sinclair in 1824 and moved to New Zealand
in 1840 with their six children. In 1846 her husband and eldest son died at sea.
With her remaining children and grandchildren, she left New Zealand heading for Canada
.
When they arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in September 1863, King Kamehameha IV
suggested they stay and purchase some land. Although the King soon died, the family purchased the entire island of Niihau
and the Makaweli estate on the island of Kauai
from King Kamehameha V
for US$10,000 on January 23, 1864.
Robinson was educated at home and attended the Boston University School of Law
and was admitted to the bar in eastern courts. He spent a number of years traveling in Europe and Asia, and, on his return to Hawaii, managed the family estates after the death of his uncle Francis Sinclair with his cousin (also brother-in-law), Francis Gay, under the firm name of Gay & Robinson.
Other partners were Elizabeth Sinclair, Jane Sinclair Gay and Helen Sinclair Robinson. Their island of Niihau was used exclusively by Gay & Robinson for grazing cattle, as was much of their Makaweli estate. Robinson raised pure-bred sheep and cattle, and imported strains of Merino sheep and shorthorn cattle from the United States
, Australia
and New Zealand.
Robinson developed the Makaweli sugar plantation on Kauai, on which the Hawaiian Sugar Company leased about 6000 acres (24.3 km²). Besides this land the firm of Gay & Robinson had a sugar plantation of more than 1000 acres (4 km²) on the same estate. In 1884, Robinson imported purebred Arabian horse
s. Robinson took an active interest in church and missionary
work both in Hawaii and abroad.
(1819–1898) in 1867.
Robinson married Alice Gay in 1885, daughter of Captain Thomas Gay and Jane (Sinclair) Gay. They had four sons: Sinclair Robinson (born May 1, 1886), Aylmer Francis Robinson
(May 6, 1888–1968), Selwyn Aubrey Robinson (born August 14, 1892), and Lester Beauclerk Robinson (1901–October 1969) and one daughter, Eleanor.
Robinson died on his estate in 1936, and the estate passed to his son Aylmer and then Lester.
His descendants have kept the tradition of treating Niihau as private, earning it the name "Forbidden Island".
Niihau was owned by Lester's wife Helen Matthew Robinson (1910–2002) and then , her sons Bruce and Keith Robinson.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
plantation and a ranch consisting of an entire island in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
.
Life
Aubrey Robinson was born in Canterbury, New ZealandCanterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
on October 17, 1853. His father was Charles Barrington Robinson and mother was Helen Sinclair. His grandmother, Elizabeth McHutchison (1800–1892), also spelled McHutcheson, was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, married Francis Sinclair in 1824 and moved to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1840 with their six children. In 1846 her husband and eldest son died at sea.
With her remaining children and grandchildren, she left New Zealand heading for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
When they arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in September 1863, King Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha IV, born Alexander Iolani Liholiho Keawenui , reigned as the fourth king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 11, 1855 to November 30, 1863.-Early life:...
suggested they stay and purchase some land. Although the King soon died, the family purchased the entire island of Niihau
Niihau
Niihau or Niihau is the seventh largest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii, having an area of . Niihau lies southwest of Kauai across the Kaulakahi Channel. Several intermittent playa lakes provide wetland habitats for the Hawaiian Coot, the Black-winged Stilt, and the...
and the Makaweli estate on the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
from King Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
for US$10,000 on January 23, 1864.
Robinson was educated at home and attended the Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
and was admitted to the bar in eastern courts. He spent a number of years traveling in Europe and Asia, and, on his return to Hawaii, managed the family estates after the death of his uncle Francis Sinclair with his cousin (also brother-in-law), Francis Gay, under the firm name of Gay & Robinson.
Other partners were Elizabeth Sinclair, Jane Sinclair Gay and Helen Sinclair Robinson. Their island of Niihau was used exclusively by Gay & Robinson for grazing cattle, as was much of their Makaweli estate. Robinson raised pure-bred sheep and cattle, and imported strains of Merino sheep and shorthorn cattle from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand.
Robinson developed the Makaweli sugar plantation on Kauai, on which the Hawaiian Sugar Company leased about 6000 acres (24.3 km²). Besides this land the firm of Gay & Robinson had a sugar plantation of more than 1000 acres (4 km²) on the same estate. In 1884, Robinson imported purebred Arabian horse
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
s. Robinson took an active interest in church and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work both in Hawaii and abroad.
Family and legacy
His aunt Anne Sinclair married Kauai sugar planter Valdemar KnudsenValdemar Knudsen
Valdemar Emil Knudsen was a sugar cane plantation pioneer on west Kauai, Hawaii.-Background:Valdemar Emil Knudsen was born in Kristiansand, in Vest-Agder county, Norway. He was college-trained in botany and science in Copenhagen. Knudsen was successful both as a publisher in New York City and as a...
(1819–1898) in 1867.
Robinson married Alice Gay in 1885, daughter of Captain Thomas Gay and Jane (Sinclair) Gay. They had four sons: Sinclair Robinson (born May 1, 1886), Aylmer Francis Robinson
Aylmer Francis Robinson
Aylmer Francis Robinson was an owner of a large ranch that encompassed an island in the Hawaiian Islands.-Life:Aylmer Francis Robinson was born May 6, 1888 at the Robinson family estate in Makaweli on the island of Kauai during the Kingdom of Hawaii. His father was Aubrey Robinson and mother was...
(May 6, 1888–1968), Selwyn Aubrey Robinson (born August 14, 1892), and Lester Beauclerk Robinson (1901–October 1969) and one daughter, Eleanor.
Robinson died on his estate in 1936, and the estate passed to his son Aylmer and then Lester.
His descendants have kept the tradition of treating Niihau as private, earning it the name "Forbidden Island".
Niihau was owned by Lester's wife Helen Matthew Robinson (1910–2002) and then , her sons Bruce and Keith Robinson.