William Robinson (architect)
Encyclopedia
William Robinson was the Surveyor General of Ireland
from 1670/71 until 1700. Born in England, Robinson was appointed to the post of Surveyor General
by John Berkeley
in his first year of office as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
.
Robinson is credited as the architect of several notable buildings in Ireland
during his tenure. These include: Charles Fort in Kinsale
(1670s), the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham (1684), St. Michan's Church in Dublin
(1686), St. Mary's Church in Dublin
(~1700), "Marsh's Library" at Trinity College
(1701), and developmental works at Dublin Castle
.
From 1684 Robinson shared the post of Surveyor General with William Molyneaux
, until his resignation in 1700, when he was replaced by Thomas de Burgh
(designer of the Royal Barracks in Dublin - now Collins Barracks
).
Robinson was knighted and admitted to the Irish Privy Council, but later implicated in corruption and a financial scandal in the early 18th century. He was imprisoned for a time, before leaving Ireland in 1709. He died in England in 1712.
Surveyor General of Ireland
The office of Surveyor General of Ireland was an appointed office under the Dublin Castle administration of Ireland in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Surveyor General was typically responsible for the surveying, design and construction of civic works, and was often involved in overseeing the...
from 1670/71 until 1700. Born in England, Robinson was appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Surveyor General
The Surveyor General is an official responsible for government surveying in a specific country or territory. Originally this would often have been a military appointment, but is now more likely to be a civilian post....
by John Berkeley
John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton
John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton was an English royalist soldier. From 1648 he was closely associated with James, Duke of York, and rose to prominence, fortune and fame.-First English Civil War:...
in his first year of office as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Robinson is credited as the architect of several notable buildings in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
during his tenure. These include: Charles Fort in Kinsale
Charles Fort (Ireland)
Charles Fort is a star fort located on the water's edge, at the southern end of the village of Summer Cove, on Kinsale harbour, County Cork, Ireland. James' Fort is located on the other side of the harbour....
(1670s), the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham (1684), St. Michan's Church in Dublin
St. Michan's Church
St. Michan's Church, located in Church Street, Dublin, Ireland, is a Church of Ireland church.-Building:Built on the site of an early Danish chapel , the current structure dates largely from a reconstruction in 1686, but is still the only parish church on the north side of the Liffey surviving...
(1686), St. Mary's Church in Dublin
St. Mary's Church, Dublin
St. Mary's Church, Dublin is a former Church of Ireland building in Mary Street, Dublin.-The Church:Dating from the 17th century, the building was designed by Sir William Robinson, and is notable as the first Dublin church to be built with galleries....
(~1700), "Marsh's Library" at Trinity College
Marsh's Library
Marsh's Library, situated in St. Patrick's Close, adjacent to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland is the oldest public library in Ireland. It was built to the order of Archbishop Narcissus Marsh in 1701 and has a collection of over 25,000 books and 300 manuscripts.-Foundation:The library was...
(1701), and developmental works at Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
From 1684 Robinson shared the post of Surveyor General with William Molyneaux
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS was an Irish natural philosopher and writer on politics.He was born in Dublin to Samuel Molyneux , lawyer and landowner , and his wife, Anne, née Dowdall. The second of five children, William Molyneux came from a relatively prosperous Anglican background...
, until his resignation in 1700, when he was replaced by Thomas de Burgh
Thomas de Burgh
Colonel Thomas de Burgh 1670 – 18 December 1730), often named in his lifetime as Thomas Burgh, was an Irish military engineer, architect, and Member of the Parliament of Ireland...
(designer of the Royal Barracks in Dublin - now Collins Barracks
Collins Barracks (Dublin)
Collins Barracks is a former military barracks in the Arbour Hill area of Dublin, Ireland. The buildings are now the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History...
).
Robinson was knighted and admitted to the Irish Privy Council, but later implicated in corruption and a financial scandal in the early 18th century. He was imprisoned for a time, before leaving Ireland in 1709. He died in England in 1712.