John Robinson (Businessman)
Encyclopedia
John Robinson was a merchant and political figure in the pre-Confederation
Province of New Brunswick, Canada
. He represented the City of Saint John
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1802 to 1809 and from 1810 to 1816.
He was born near New York City
, the son of Beverley Robinson
and Susanna Philipse. Robinson was the grandson of John Robinson, former administrator for Virginia. At the start of the American Revolution
, he enlisted in the Loyal American Regiment
, a loyalist regiment organized by his father. Around 1786, he settled in the valley of the Saint John River. Robinson was named sheriff for Queens County
. In 1787, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of George Duncan Ludlow
. A few years later, he established himself as a merchant in Saint John. Robinson did not run for reelection in 1809 but was elected to the legislative assembly in an 1810 by-election. He served as acting deputy paymaster general during the War of 1812
. He was chosen as speaker for the assembly in 1813 following the death of Amos Botsford
and served until 1816 when he was named province treasurer. In the same year, he was named mayor of Saint John. In 1818, he was named to the New Brunswick Council. In 1820, he was named to the board of directors for the new Bank of New Brunswick
and became president. Robinson resigned from the Council in 1826 but continued as mayor and province treasurer until his death in Saint John in 1828.
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
Province of New Brunswick, Canada
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He represented the City of Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1802 to 1809 and from 1810 to 1816.
He was born near New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Beverley Robinson
Beverley Robinson
Beverley Robinson , a wealthy colonist from New York, was a son of the Hon. John Robinson of Virginia, who was the President of that colony. He is mostly remembered as the commander of the Loyal American Regiment, a loyalist regiment in the American War of Independence and for his work with the...
and Susanna Philipse. Robinson was the grandson of John Robinson, former administrator for Virginia. At the start of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, he enlisted in the Loyal American Regiment
Loyal American Regiment
The Loyal American Regiment was a Royal Provincial regiment composed of American loyalists who served in the American Revolution from 1777 to 1783...
, a loyalist regiment organized by his father. Around 1786, he settled in the valley of the Saint John River. Robinson was named sheriff for Queens County
Queens County, New Brunswick
Queens County is located in central New Brunswick, Canada.-Geography:The county's geography is dominated by the Saint John River and Grand Lake. Coal mining is a major industry in the Minto area. Forestry and mixed farming dominate the rest of the county...
. In 1787, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of George Duncan Ludlow
George Duncan Ludlow
George Duncan Ludlow was lawyer and a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of the British Province of New York in the Thirteen Colonies who became the first Chief Justice of New Brunswick in Canada....
. A few years later, he established himself as a merchant in Saint John. Robinson did not run for reelection in 1809 but was elected to the legislative assembly in an 1810 by-election. He served as acting deputy paymaster general during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He was chosen as speaker for the assembly in 1813 following the death of Amos Botsford
Amos Botsford
Amos Botsford was a lawyer, judge, land owner and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Westmorland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1786 to 1812....
and served until 1816 when he was named province treasurer. In the same year, he was named mayor of Saint John. In 1818, he was named to the New Brunswick Council. In 1820, he was named to the board of directors for the new Bank of New Brunswick
Bank of New Brunswick
The Bank of New Brunswick was established on March 25, 1820 in the pre-Confederation Province of New Brunswick, Canada as the first Canadian bank to operate under a charter. Headquartered in a new building on Prince William Street in Saint John in 1826, the neoclassical bank façade consisted of an...
and became president. Robinson resigned from the Council in 1826 but continued as mayor and province treasurer until his death in Saint John in 1828.