He distinguished himself at the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781. In the course of the engagement, "Shrewsbury" lost fourteen men killed, and fifty-two wounded, including Robinson, who lost a leg from cannon shot. Unable to return to sea, he was granted a pension. When he became, by seniority, entitled to a flag, he was placed on the list of superannuated rear admirals. At the time of his death, he was the senior rear admiral in the Royal Navy.