William Robinson (Governor of Hong Kong)
This page is about Sir William Robinson, who became the 11th Governor of Hong Kong. For the 5th Governor of Hong Kong, see Hercules George Robert Robinson.For another 19th century colonial administrator called William Robinson, see William Cleaver Francis Robinson. |
Sir William Robinson |
Sir William Robinson (Chinese Translated Name 威廉·羅便臣) (
1836 -
1912) was a
British colonial governor who was the last Governor of
Trinidad and the first Governor of the merged colony of
Trinidad and Tobago. He was also the 11th Governor of
Hong Kong.
Robinson was born in
1836. He was the eldest son of Rev. J. Banks Robinson. He became a Member of Slave Trade Commission in
1869 and was appointed Governor of
Bahama Isles from
1874 to
1880. A year later, Robinson was appointed governor of the
Windward Islands, a position he held until
1884. Afterwards, he became Governor of
Barbados, and was transferred to become the Governor of
Trinidad a year later. In
1889 the colony of
Tobago was merged with Trinidad into the united colony of Trinidad and Tobago, with Robinson as its first governor, a position he held until
1891.
In
1891, Robinson was appointed Governor of
Hong Kong, a position he served until
1898. This was Robinson's last post in the Colonial Services. He was the
governor of Hong Kong who served the longest term. During his tenure,
Sun Yet-Sen graduated from the territory's Medical School. Also, Robinson received the thanks of the Hong Kong government for the settlement of the Fanny Josephine affair (
Venezuela).
Robinson married twice. His married his first wife, Julia Sophia, in
1862. She died in
1881 and Robinson married FeliciaIda Helen 3 years later, in
1884. Helen ten years later. The couple had three sons and three daughters. Robinson himself died on
1 December,
1912.
*
C.M.G.,
1877*
K.C.M.G.,
1883*
G.C.M.G.,
1897Despite public perceptions to the contrary, there are no places in
Hong Kong that was named after Sir William Robinson. Places in Hong Kong with the name "Robinson" was actually named for an earlier Governor Robinson, who became the 1st Baron of Rosmead.
*
History of Hong Kong
