Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/308

282 which place he still (1898) occupies. Dr. Robins has spent much time in study and travel in Europe.

ROBINS, Thomas, banker, b. at South Point, his father's plantation, Worcester county, Md., 1 Jan.. 1707: d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 13 April, 1882, He received an academic education in Maryland, and in 1815 removed to Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1852. Mr. Robins was then called to the presidency of the Philadelphia bank, resigning in 1879, having extri- cated it almost from bankruptcy, and carried it safely through two panics, and leaving it the most prosperous in the city. He held many places of trust, and was at one time president of the com- mon council of Philadelphia. Mr. Robins was the author of " Notes of Travel " (printed privately, Philadelphia, 1873).

'''ROBINSON. Annie Douglas''', poet, b. in Plym- outh, N. H., 12 Jan.. 1842. Her maiden name was Green. Under the pen-name of " Marian Douglas " she has contributed many poems to magazines and newspapers, and published in book- form "Picture Poems for Young Folks" (Boston, 1871) and a story in prose entitled " Peter and Polly, or Home Life in New England a Hundred Fears Ago" (1876).

ROBINSON, Beverly, soldier, b. in Virginia in 1723; d. in Thornbury, England, in 1792. He was the son of John Robinson, president of the council of Virginia in 1734, and afterward speaker of the house of burgesses. The son served under Wolfe as a major at the storming of Que- bec in 1759, and be- came wealthy by his marriage with Su- sanna, daughter of Frederick Phillipse. Though he opposed the measures that led to the separation of the colonies from the mother-country, he joined the loyal- ists when independ- ence was declared, removed to New York, and raised the Loyal American regiment, of which he was colonel, also commanding the corps called the guards and pioneers. Col. Robinson was also em- ployed to conduct several matters of importance on behalf of the royalists, and figured conspicu- ously in cases of defection from the Whig cause. He opened a correspondence with the Whig lead- ers of Vermont relative to their return to their allegiance, and was concerned in Arnold's treason. Hi- eountry mansion was Arnold's headquarters while the latter was arranging his plan. (See illus- tration on page 95, vol. i.) After the trial and con- viction of Andre, Col. Robinson, as a witness, ac- companied the commissioners that were sent by Sir Henry Clinton to Washington's headquarters to plead with him for Andre's life. Col. Robinson had previously addressed Washington on the subject of Andre's release, and in his letter reminded him of their former friendship. At the termination of the war he went to New Brunswick, and was a member of the first council of that colony, but did not take his seat. He subsequently went to England with part of his family, and resided in retirement at Phornbury, near Bath, till his death. His wife was included in the confiscation act of New York, and the whole of the estate that was derived from her father passed from the family. As a compensation for this loss the British government granted her husband the sum of 17,000 sterling. She died at Thornbury in 1822, aged ninety-four years. Their son. Beverly, b. in New York state" about 1755; d. in New York city in 1816, was gradual. .1 at Columbia in 1773, and at the beginning of the Hi-volution was a student of law in the office of James Duane. He was a lieutenant - colonel in the Loyal American regiment, and at the evacu- ation of New York was placed at the head of a large number of loyalists, who embarked for Nova Scotia. He afterward went to New Ilnni-- wick, and resided principally at and near the city of St. John, receiving half-pay as an officer of the crown. He was a member of the council of New Brunswick, and on the occurrence of the war be- tween Great Britain and France, was given com- mand of a regiment that had been raised in the colony. Col. Robinson did much to advance tin- interests of the city of St. John. He died while on a visit to two of his sons that remained resi- dents of New York city. Another son of the first Beverly, Morris, b. in the Highlands of New York in 1759 ; d. at Gibraltar in 1815, served as a captain in the queen's rangers during the war of the Revolution, and after the restoration of peace was continued in commission. At the time of his death he was a lieutenant - colonel and assistant barrack-master-general in the British army. An- other son, John, b. in New York state in 1761 ; d. in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1828, was a lieutenant in the Loyal American regiment dur- ing the Revolution, and when the corps was dis- banded he settled in New Brunswick and received half-pay. He became a successful merchant, was deputy paymaster-general of the king's forces in the colony, a member of the council, treasurer of New Brunswick, mayor of St. John, and presi- dent of the first bank that was chartered in that city and in the colony. Another son, Sir Fred- erick Phillipse, soldier, b. in the Highlands of New York in September, 1763; d. in Brighton, England, 1 Jan., 1852, was attached to his father's regiment, and in February, 1777, was commissioned an ensign. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Stony Point, but was exchanged, and left this country. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1794, served in the West Indies under Sir Charles Gore, and was present at the siege of Fort Bourbon in the island of Martinique. In 1795 he returned to England, and in 1812 he served as brigadier-general in the peninsula. After the termination of the peninsular war he went to Canada as commander-in-chief of the troops in the upper province. He commanded the British force in the attack on Plattsburg under Gen. Prevost, and protested against the order of his superior officer when he was directed to retire. From 1 July, 1815, till 1816, he administered the government of Upper Canada during the absence of Francis Gore. He soon afterward removed to the West Indies, where he took command of the forces. He became a lieutenant-general in 1825, and in 1841 was promoted to the full rank of general. On 2 Jan., 1815, he was made a knight commander of the Bath, and in 1838 he became a knight grand cross of that order. Another son, Sir William Henry, b. in the Highlands of New York in 1766 d. in Bath, England, in 1836, accompanied his father to England, was appointed to a place in the commissariat department of the British army, and was its ln-ad at the time of his death. He was knighted for his long services. His wife, Catherine, daughter of Cortlandt Skin-