# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robinson, John Beverley

​ROBINSON, Sir JOHN BEVERLEY (1791–1863), chief justice of Upper Canada, the second son of Christopher Robinson and his wife Esther, daughter of the Rev. John Sayre of New Brunswick, was born at Berthier in the province of Quebec on 26 July 1791. His father—cousin of Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson [q. v.]—served during the American war of independence as a loyalist in the queen's rangers, and was present as an ensign in Cornwallis's army at the surrender of Yorktown in 1781. He then settled at Toronto, where he practised as a barrister. At an early age John became a pupil of Dr. Strachan (afterwards bishop of Toronto), was further educated at Cornwall, Upper Canada, and finally entered an attorney's office. In 1812, when the war with the United States broke out, Robinson volunteered for the ​militia, and received a commission under Sir Isaac Brock; he was present at the capture of Fort Detroit and at Queenston and several other engagements.
In 1814 Robinson served for one session as clerk of the house of assembly for Upper Canada; at the end of the year he qualified for the bar, and was at once called upon to act for a short time as attorney-general. In 1815 he became solicitor-general, and in February 1818 attorney-general, having rapidly acquired one of the best practices at the bar, and exerting remarkable influence with juries. He entered the assembly, but soon migrated to the legislative council on nomination, being speaker of that body from 1828 to 1840. He was the acknowledged leader of the tory party both in and out of parliament, and one of the clique known as the ‘Family Compact’ of Canada; as such he was violently attacked by William Lyon Mackenzie [q. v.] On 15 July 1829 he became chief justice of Upper Canada, remaining in the council till the reunion of the two Canadas in 1840. That union he stoutly opposed, but on its completion he took an active part in adjusting the financial arrangements, and received the thanks of the Upper Canada assembly.
From this time Robinson became more and more absorbed in the heavy work of the courts. He was created C.B. in November 1850, and a baronet in 1854. He was created D.C.L. of Oxford on 20 June 1855. He died at Toronto on 31 Jan. 1863.
Robinson is a prominent figure in the history of Upper Canada; he was the embodiment of the ‘high church and state tory,’ and was always suspicious of the democratic leaders. In his earlier days he was impulsive, and as attorney-general prosecuted the editor of the ‘Freeman’ for a libel on himself. He was a pleasant speaker, with an easy, flowing, and equable style. His work was marked by indefatigable industry and research.
Robinson married, in London in 1817, Emma, daughter of Charles Walker of Harlesden, Middlesex, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, James Lukin, who died on 21 Aug. 1894. His second son, John Beverley, born in 1820, was lieutenant-governor of Ontario from 1880 to 1887.
Robinson left several small works, but none of more importance than his pamphlet on ‘Canada and the Canada Bill,’ embodying his arguments against the union of the provinces.
C. A. H.