[Note: Likely written by a relative and prior to Robinson's death.]

Hon. John Beverly Robinson

Toronto

The subject of this sketch is a practical illustration of the value of this nature to generations yet unborn, who, in days to come, will be glancing over its pages, viewing the faces and reading the part each one has taken in the development of our country. John Beverly Robinson was born in Toronto, then called York on the 20^th day of February 1820, his parents being Sir John Beverly Robinson Bart. And Emma (Walker) Robinson. The former was born in Bethier, [Que.] and the latter in England, (daughter of one of the old English families. Of this marriage there was seven children born, four boys and three girls. John Beverly Robinson was the second eldest of these, his elder brothers Sir James Lukin Robinson, Bart., who succeeded to the title of his father, now holds a position in Osgoode Hall. The other members of the family are Christopher Robinson, Qec., Col. Charles Robinson, C.B., Rifle Brigade, (now on the staff of the Duke of Cambridge, in London, England) also being honored with the title of [D.A.G.] The eldest daughter Emily [the word ‘formerly’ has been crossed out] wife

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The words ‘of wife’ have been crossed out] of General Sir Henry Lefroy, died about 20 years ago; the next Louisa, wife of the present Senator George Allen, died in Rome, Italy, about 30 years ago. The youngest, Augusta, is the widow of the late Capt. Strachan of the 68^th Regiment, eldest son of the late Bishop of Toronto. Sir John Beverly Robinson, (the father of our subject), while practicing law at Lincoln’s [Inn] London, Eng. Met the lady who afterwards became his wife, Christopher, father of Sir John, and grandfather of the Hon. John Beverly Robinson, was a native born Virginian, one of the F.F.V.’s, and took an active part in the revolutionary war but on the side of the King. At the close of the war he was taken prisoner, being then but 24 years of age, and on his release with thousands of others of the disbanded armies, he took ship for Nova Scotia, where he remained for some time, marrying the daughter of the Rev. John Sayre, who was also a refugee. A strange fact, but one worthy of mention, is that [the words ‘of six’ have been crossed out] he was the only one out of six boys in the family who advocated the cause of the king, his other brothers fighting on the Colonnial side. After about two years stay in Nova Scotia he came leisurely across the country to Berthier, Qec., where he remained for some time.

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He then, with his-family went to Kingston, Ont., where he resided for about six years, falling in with-many old comrades of the revolutionary war. Making himself active in all matters of public importance, he was returned as a member of the first Legislative Assembly, then held at Niagara, [the words ‘General Simcoe’ have been crossed out] for the united countries of Lennox & Addington. The Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada at that time being General Simcoe, who also had been through the revolutionary war. [The words ‘This was’ have been crossed out] After attending the first session of the Legislative Assembly he moved his family to Toronto, then York, where he had purchased 100 acres of land immediately below the Don river, and in the next month after his arrival here, 1798, he died at the age of 36, and was buried in the military burying ground. For some time before his death, however, he was appointed and acted as Queen’s Ranger, of the Protector of Forrests. Sir John Beverly Robinson, Bart., father of our subject, was the second eldest son left, and on the death of his father, being then only about six years of age, was taken in charge by the Rev. [Dr.] Stewart, father of the late Archdeacon Stewart, of Kingston-Diocese, who was also a refugee, and who was

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to look after his education. Here he remained for about two years, until the arrival of [the word ‘of’ has been crossed out] Rev. Dr. Strachan, in Kingston, when he was induced to go over to [the words ‘the Rev. Doctor’ have been crossed out] that gentleman’s care, and remained with his for a short time, or until Rev. Dr. Strachan was appointed to the Parish of Cornwall, when he again returned to Dr. Stewart. Observing more than unusual brilliancy in the young man. Dr. Strachan induced his then guardian, to allow him to go to Cornwall to complete his [the word ‘studies’ has been crossed out] education, which he did, taking up the next seven years. Leaving Cornwall he came to York and studied law under Col. MacDonnell, then Attorney-General of the Province, who was afterwards killed at Queenston Heights while attending as Aide-de-Camp to General Brock in 1812. After the close of the rebellion his articles of clerkship were transferred to Solicitor-General Boulton, who [the word ‘afterwards’ has been crossed out and ‘subsequently’ has been written above it] was elevated to the Bench. Solicitor-General Boulton being taken prisoner-of-war and Col. MacDonnell being laid at rest, Sir John, [an illegible word has been crossed out] at the early age of 1 years was ap-

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pointed Attorney-General for the Province of Upper Canada, which position he held until 1828m when he was again elevated to the distinguished position of Chief Justice of Upper Canada. In the War of 1812-13 he was in several engagements prominent among which was the taking of Detroit, Mich., as well as many smaller ones, [the words ‘as well as’ have been crossed out and ‘besides’ has been written above them] the part he took at Queenston Heights. So valiant did he prove himself that he was mentioned in despatches for gallantry in his conduct. In 1815 he [an illegible word has been crossed out] returned to Toronto and continued to practice of his profession. He was elected representative of the County of York to the Legislative Assembly on three different occasions, his first election being about 1817, and all this time he continued to fill the office of Attorney-General. In fact, in all matters appertaining to the welfare of Canada he took a most active part. In 1822 he was sent to England to represent the Province of Ontario on matters touching the appointment of [the words ‘the appointment of’ have been crossed out] the tariff between the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. After a stay of about a year in England he returned, all matters of dispute being adjusted

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and received the thanks of the Government and Legislative Assembly for the excellent service rendered by him. While in England on this mission, the English Government were so much struck with the talent exhibited by him that he was offered the position of Chief Justice of Mauritius, the salary connected with-which was £7,000 sterling per annum with-a pension of £1,500 a year after seven years service. His love for the Province in which he was born, however, being desirous of helping forward, so far as in him lay, its-prosperity-and with-bright prospects before him, he declined the offer. The office of Chief Justice of Ontario he held for 33 years, and was raised to the dignity of Baronet in 1854, by the Imperial Government. He died in 1863, at the age of 72 years and his wife in 1866, about the same age. The Hon. John Beverly Robinson was educated at Upper Canada College, which he entered when about eight years of age, and left in 1837, having completed his education. He then commenced the study of law in the late Atty-General Hagerman’s Office, the same year, with-whom he remained

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until he was raised to the Bench in 1839m when his articles were transferred to the late Hon. John Hillyard Cameron. On the completion of his studies with-this gentleman, in 1843, he was admitted to partnership. This arrangement continued for about seven years, when MR. Robinson withdrew and formed a co-partnership with another gentleman in the practice of law. Some years later, being made Solicitor-for the [the word ‘the’ has been crossed out] Corporation of Ontario, as well as filling the same position in various institutions, he again withdrew from partnership and [the words ‘entered into’ have been crossed out] practiced law by himself. On the breaking out of the rebellion in 1837 he was made A.D.C. to Sir Francis Bond Head , the then Governor, in which capacity-he did excellent service, of which [the words ‘we so’ have been crossed out] it is only necessary to mention one incident. A difficulty-having arisen as to who should take dispatches to the then British Minister at Washington,-he volunteered for the service, and left Toronto in mid-winter,-and reached Washington, D.C., seven days later the entire distance being made in a four-horse coach. The name of the then British

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Minister – was Charles James Fox, nephew of the celebrated statesman of the same name. While in Washington he had the honor of meeting President Van Buren and fraternizing with-such distinguished Americans as John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, [the word ‘President’ has been crossed out] and many others, as well as the Secretary of State, William [S.] Marsey. By all of these dignitaries the young man was heartily received, and [the word ‘for’ has been crossed out’] during his stay was lionized. On his return with-dispatches to Sir Francis Head Bond Head, he was complemented in writing by the Government and in addition to this Sir Francis Bond Head, presented him with-his favorite horse as an evidence of his appreciation of services rendered. [An illegible word has been crossed out and ‘On’ has been written above it] the conclusion of the rebellion he joined the Queen’s Light Infantry, then commanded by Col. Hill, and did service at Sandwich, Ont., in the capacity of Lieutenant, his Ensign being now the well-known Commodore Cook of the Guard Line of steamers. Returning to Toronto he again resumed the practice of his profession. In 1858 he contested the representation of the city in Parliament when

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in conjunction with the late Hon. George Brown, he was returned. The afterwards contested five different elections, his opponents being Sir Adam Wilson, the late Mr. Bower, who was Mayor of the city; the late Chief Justice Moss, and the late Senator McDonald. In 1862 he was made president of the Executive Council, from which position he retired on the defeat of the Government on the Militia Bill. Prior to this, however, in 1860, he interested himself in the sale of townships, and succeeded in negotiating the sale of 250,000 acres, or 10 townships, back of Halliburton, to an English Company of which Sir Francis Bond Head was Chairman, and the present Lord Salisbury, (then Lord Cecil), one of the Directors. He was also very active, while in Parliament, in bringing about the establishment of the Northern Railroad, and the Toronto & Guelph Railroad, which were among the first roads constructed in Canada. During this time he was an Alderman in the City Council of Toronto, representing St. Patrick’s Ward which also included the now St. John’s Ward, and in getting his railroad measure through Parliament his hands

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were greatly strengthened by the grant of £100,000 from the city for this work. He was first elected as alderman in [_], and was President of the Council in 1855. [The word ‘In’ has been crossed out] The following year, 1856, he was elected Mayor of the city, defeating John Hutchinson. Tow years later he retired from the Council, having many other affairs of equal importance to attend to. At this time, seeing the great want of a [the word ‘good’ has been crossed out] first-class hotel in Toronto, he interested himself to such an extent that he individually succeeded in collecting $134,000 to aid in the construction of the Rossin House and the ground being purchased, the present magnificent building was erected. As an acknowledgement for this service the Mssrs. Rossin presented him with a beautiful bronze statue, which is still in his possession. He was also instrumental, about this time, in setting on foot and establishing the Western Canada Building Society, which has since grown to be one of the largest financial institutions in the country. Commencing to loan money when there was buy $45,000 subscribed capital, they now loan upwards of $1,000,000 annually. He was made Lieutenant-

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Governor of Ontario in 1880, which position he filled until 1887, owing to the many requisitions had been laid before the Government for an extension of time so popular was his administration of affairs. These requisitions came from municipal bodies all over Ontario, with the result that he held office two years longer than his term. He is now living a retired life. The only society with which he is connected is the St. George’s Society which he was President and is still a member.