Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robinson, Bryan (1808-1887)
ROBINSON, Sir BRYAN (1808–1887), colonial judge, was born on 14 Jan. 1808 at Dublin, being youngest son of Christopher Robinson, rector of Granard, co. Longford; his mother was Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir Hercules Langrishe [q. v.] Hercules Robinson [q. v.] was an elder brother. From Castlenock school he went in 1824 to Trinity College, Dublin, but before graduating, in 1828, he went out to Newfoundland in the staff of Admiral Cochrane. In 1831 Robinson was called to the bar in Nova Scotia, and began to practise in Newfoundland. His first appearance in a case of more than local importance was before the judicial committee in Keilley v. Carson, which raised the question of the power of a house of assembly to imprison a person of its own motion. Robinson opposed the claim of the Newfoundland house of assembly, and the judgment in his favour finally settled the law on this point.
In 1834 Robinson was made a master of chancery with the obligation of advising the members of the council. In December 1842 he entered the colonial parliament as member for Fortune Bay. In 1843 he became a queen's counsel of the local bar, and later a member of the executive council. In 1858 he was made a puisne judge. He was a warm supporter of every project for the good of the colony, especially interesting himself in the opening up of the interior, direct steam communication with England, and relief works in bad seasons; he was president of the Agricultural Society. He was also an active supporter of the church of England. He was knighted in December 1877 for his distinguished services, and retired from his office in Newfoundland in 1878 owing to failing health. He settled at Ealing, Middlesex, where he died on 6 Dec. 1887.
He married, in 1834, Selina, daughter of Arthur Houldsworth Brooking of Brixham, Devonshire, who died before him, leaving several children.
There is a vignette of Robinson in Prowse's ‘History of Newfoundland.’
[Biograph and Review, January 1892; private information.]