Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/1005

Rh This officer entered the Navy, 3 Oct. 1803, as Fat.-cl. Vol., on board the 24, Capt. John Nicholas, stationed in the Channel, where he cruized until May, 1804. In the following Aug. he joined the, bearing the flag of Admiral Montagu at Spithead; and in Sept. of the same year he was received on board the 74, Capts. Mark Robinson and Wm. Geo. Rutherford. Under the latter officer, after pursuing the combined squadrons to the West Indies and back, he fought, in the capacity of Midshipman, at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805. Between Sept. 1807, when he left the, and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 21 March, 1812, he was actively employed on the Mediterranean, Home, and West India sta .ons, in the 50,  38, Capt. Lord Cochrane,  74, Capt. Rich. Jones, of similar force, Capt. Lord Amelius Beauclerk,  sloop, Capt. John Gore,  22, Capt. Fras. Aug. Collier, and frigate, Capt. Wm. Henry Byam. In Oct. 1812 he received an appointment to the 18, Capt. Fred, Wm. Burgoyne, stationed in the Channel. He invalided in March, 1813; and, owing to the effects of a continued asthma, has not been since able to seek service. While belonging to the he broke his thigh; and he has been in consequence lame to the present day.

He married, 13 Feb. 1813, and has issue three children. – Fred. Dufaur.

 ROBINSON. 

was born 3 Dec. 1805 at Appledore House, co. Devon.

This officer entered the Navy, 13 May, 1819, on board the, on the North Sea station. From 1821 until 1826 he was employed, in the 24, Capt. Wm. Fitzwilliam Owen, on a survey of the east and west coasts of Africa. He was one of a very few in the expedition who ever returned to England. On 30 Sept. 1826 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and in the course of the following year he again, in the 26, sailed with Capt. Owen for the coast of Africa, for the purpose of forming a settlement at Fernando Po, in the Bight of Biafra, where every gun-room officer but himself fell a victim to the climate. While on this service he was chiefly employed in a tender in cruizing after slavers, three vessels of which description he succeeded in capturing. The “prompt zeal” he displayed on one occasion in proceeding to sea under peculiar circumstances in the schooner had the effect of procuring him, in Jan. 1828, the thanks of the Government of Sierra Leone. Since 25 March, 1829, he has been employed, almost uninterruptedly, in the Surveying Department of the Navy. Until April, 1835, he served (with his name on the books of the, , and ), as Assistant to Capt. Henry Mangles Denham, on the coast of Wales. He was then placed in charge of the Survey on the Welsh coast, whence he afterwards repaired to the coast of Scotland. Having attained the rank of Commander 28 June, 1838, he was appointed in that capacity, 13 Dec. 1842, to the steam-vessel, fitting at. From 31 Jan. 1843 until paid off at the close of 1847 he commanded the steamer of 160 horsepower, again on the coast of Scotland. He was employed during that period in attendance on the Queen on the occasion of one of Her Majesty’s visits. He attained his present rank 9 Nov. 1846; and was appointed, 14 Feb. 1848, Additional-Captain of the 110. – Case and Loudonsack.

 ROBINSON. 

entered the Navy, 8 July, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the sloop, Capt. Alex. Innes, with whom, and with Capt. Edw. Wallis Hoare, he continued employed as Midshipman in the 20, on the Cork station, until transferred, in Nov. 1807, to the  of 48 guns, Capt. Hon. Fred. Paul Irby. In that ship he contributed to the destruction of three French frigates under the batteries of Sable d’Olonne 24 Feb. 1809; witnessed the capture of La Mouche corvette of 16 guns and 180 men, La Rejouie national brig of 8 guns and 51 men, a schooner of 1 gun and 25 men, two armed luggers with cargoes (all taken on one occasion, in company with the 38), and Le Charles privateer of 20 guns, 300 tons, and 170 men; aided in causing the self-destruction, 25 March, 181 1, of L’Amazone, a French frigate of the largest class, which had been driven into a bay near Cape Barfleur; and was present at the demolition of the fort and town of Winnebah, on the coast of Africa. He was also, 7 Feb. 1813, engaged, as Master’s Mate, and severely wounded in a desperate action of more than three hours and a half fought off the lies de Los with L’Aréthuse French frigate of 44 guns (24-pounders on her main-deck) and 340 men, which terminated in the separation of the combatants, after a loss to the enemy of 105 killed and wounded, and to the British, out of an original force of 300, of 141 men killed and wounded. For his conduct on the occasion he was ordered, the day following, to act as Third-Lieutenant (that officer having been killed); and on 15 of the ensuing April was confirmed. About six months after the had been paid off he was appointed, 12 Nov. 1813, to the  sloop, Capt. Wm. Kempthorne, with whom he served on the North American station until Nov. 1815. From Dec. 1832 until 1 Jan. 1838 he had charge of the Semaphore station at Chelsea; and from 12 May, 1842, until 1845, he was employed in the 80, guard-ship at Sheerness, Capts. Peter Fisher and Rich. Arthur. He is now on half-pay.

Lieut. Robinson’s wounds procured him a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund and a pension from Government of 91l. 5s. per annum.

 ROBINSON. 

entered the Navy 29 Dec. 1827; and passed his examination 6 May, 1835. At the period of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 2 Feb. 1844, he was serving, on the coast of Ireland, as Mate in the surveying-steamer, Capt. Geo. Alex. Frazer. His appointments have since been – 9 March, 1844, as Additional, to the steam-frigate, Capt. Wm. Jones, on the coast of Africa – 26 March, 1844, to the brigantine, Capt. Thos. Saumarez Brock, employed on surveying service in the Mediterranean, whence he returned to England as First-Lieutenant and was paid off in 1847 – and 7 March, 1848, to the discovery ship, Capt. Edw. Joseph Bird. – Joseph Woodhead.

 ROBINSON. 

(b) was born 13 Aug. 1792. This officer entered the Navy, 22 Oct. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the 64, Capt. Peter Heywood; in which ship, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Geo. Murray, he witnessed the unsuccessful attempt made by Lieut.-General Whitelocke upon Buenos Ayres in July, 1807. Between June, 1808, and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 16 Feb. 1815, he was employed on the North Sea, Mediterranean, Brazilian, Baltic, and Home stations, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the 74, Capt. Ross Donnelly,  32, Capt. P. Heywood,  74, Capt. Hugh Downman,  28, and  20, Capt. Buckland Stirling Bluett. He was present in the Princess Caroline when the marines of that ship were landed at Scheveling for the support of the Prince of Orange; and also in a voyage to Spitbergen. Since his promotion he has been on half-pay.

