Robinson, William Benjamin

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Julia Jarvis, “ROBINSON, WILLIAM BENJAMIN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/robinson_william_benjamin_10E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Politician; b. 22 Dec. 1797 in Kingston, U.C., youngest son of loyalists Christopher Robinson and Esther Sayre; d. 18 July 1873 in Toronto, Ont.
    • In the year after William Benjamin Robinson’s birth the family, which included two older brothers, Peter and John Beverley, moved to York (Toronto); the father died when the youngest son was less than a year old. The family seems to have lived in scanty comfort but in 1802 Esther married Elisha Beman, a mill-owner and merchant in Newmarket who had earlier been a tavern-keeper in York. It was at Newmarket that William was brought up and educated by his mother.
    • William also followed Peter into the fur trade, in the firm P. and W. Robinson. He established two trading-posts in the Muskoka district. In 1828 William, who like his brothers was strongly Tory in his sympathies, contested the first election for the Legislative Assembly in Simcoe County after its separation from York County. He lost to John Cawthra by nine votes, but won in the elections of 1830 and 1834.
    • A new sphere of activity had opened for Robinson in 1833 when the assembly appointed him with Absalom Shade and John Macaulay as commissioners to superintend the expenditure of a grant voted for the improvement of the Welland Canal. Robinson acted in a supervisory capacity for the canal for many years, his instructions being “to give his personal attendance on the canal until it was rendered navigable.” He carried out his duties with vigour (living in St Catharines from 1837 to 1843), and took charge of all contracts and disbursements.
    • William Benjamin Robinson did not achieve the prominence of his two elder brothers but he carried out the various responsibilities that came his way with energy and ability, and honourably stuck to his convictions. He shared what came to be known as “the Robinson charm,” a rare humour, and a zest for living that made him a delightful companion.
  • Son of Proven Loyalist in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=7058
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69015409/william_benjamin-robinson