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Sir William Robinson, 1st Baronet

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Arms of Robinson of Newby: Vert, a chevron between three bucks at gaze or
The Red House, built for Robinson c.1714 with later additions.
Newby Park, later Baldersby Park

Sir William Robinson, 1st Baronet (19 November 1655 – 22 December 1736), 1st Baronet of Newby-on-Swale, Yorkshire, was an English Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1689 and 1722. He was Lord Mayor of York from 1700 to 1701.

Robinson was the eldest son of Thomas Robinson of York, a Turkey merchant, by his wife Elizabeth, Tancred, daughter of Charles Tancred of Arden, Yorkshire.[1] He was descended from a wealthy York merchant, also called William Robinson, who had been Lord Mayor of York and its MP during the reign of Elizabeth I. Robinson was educated at York under Mr Langley, and was admitted at St John's College, Cambridge on 6 February 1671.[2] In 1674, he was admitted at Gray's Inn. He succeeded his father in 1676. He married Mary Aislabie, daughter of George Aislabie of Studley Royal, Yorkshire on 8 September 1679.[1] He was Captain of the Bulmer Troop, North Riding Militia Horse, from December 1688 and was associated with Danby's rising during the Glorious Revolution.[3][4]

Robinson was returned as Member of Parliament for Northallerton on his own interest at the 1689 English general election. He was not very active in parliament and was appointed to only three committees. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in from March to November 1689. His uncle Metcalfe Robinson had been created a baronet in 1660, but died without issue in 1689, so that the baronetcy became extinct. Robinson was created a baronet to revive the title on 13 February 1690.[1]

Robinson was returned as MP for Northallerton at the 1690 English general election. He was MP for York from 1698 until 1722. He was also Lord Mayor of York in 1700.[5] In the city, he lived at The Red House, which he built in 1714.[6]

He commissioned Colen Campbell to build Newby Park house (later known as Baldersby Park House) in the new Palladian style at Newby-on-Swale. It was completed in 1721 and is now a Grade I listed building.

Robinson died on 22 December 1736 and was buried at Topcliffe. He had five sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Metcalfe, survived him by only four days, the baronetcy then passed to his second son, Tancred, who became a Rear-Admiral of the White and was twice Lord Mayor of York. His fourth son, Thomas served as Secretary of State for the Southern Department and Leader of the House of Commons, and was raised to the peerage as Baron Grantham in 1761.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Cokayne, George Edward, ed. (1904), Complete Baronetage volume 4 (1665–1707), vol. 4, Exeter: William Pollard and Co, p. 158, retrieved 2 February 2019
  2. ^ "Robinson, William (RBN670W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ "ROBINSON, William (c.1654-1736), of Newby, Yorks". History of Parliament Online (1660–1690). Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  4. ^ Major Robert Bell Turton, The History of the North York Militia, now known as the Fourth Battalion Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment), Leeds: Whitehead, 1907/Stockton-on-Tees: Patrick & Shotton, 1973, ISBN 0-903169-07-X, p. 33.
  5. ^ "ROBINSON, Sir William, 1st Bt. (?1654-1736), of Newby, Yorks". History of Parliament Online (1715–1754). Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  6. ^ Historic Properties Walking Guide. York: York Conservation Trust. 2010.
  • Dictionary of National Biography
Parliament of England
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Northallerton
1689–1695
With: Thomas Lascelles
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for York
1698–1707
With: Tobias Jenkins 1698–1701
Edward Thompson 1701
Tobias Jenkins 1701–1705
Robert Benson 1705–07
Succeeded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Parliament of England
Member of Parliament for York
1708–1722
With: Robert Benson 1708–1713
Robert Fairfax 1713–15
Tobias Jenkins 1715–1722
Succeeded by
Baronetage of England
New creation Baronet
(of Newby)
1690–1736
Succeeded by
Metcalfe Robinson