William Robson, Baron Robson
William Snowdon Robson, Baron Robson, GCMG, PC (10 September 1852 – 11 September 1918) was an English lawyer, judge and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons twice between 1885 and 1910.
Robson as caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, January 1906
Background and early life
Robson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the son of Robert Robson merchant of Newcastle-on-Tyne and his wife Emily Jane Snowden, daughter of William Snowden of Newcastle-on-Tyne.[1] He was educated at Newcastle and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.[2] He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1880 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1892.[3]
Political career
At the 1885 general election Robson was elected Member of Parliament for Bow and Bromley and held the seat until 1886.[4] At the 1895 general election he was elected MP for South Shields and held the seat until 1910.[5]
Government
He was the Solicitor General from 1905 to 1908.[3] Upon his appointment, he was knighted the same year.[6] In 1908, he was promoted to be the Attorney General from 1908 to 1910. On 19 July 1910, he was sworn of the Privy Council.[7]
Peerage
On 12 October 1910, Robson was made a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and a life peer with the title Baron Robson, of Jesmond in the County of Northumberland.[8] He was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George as a Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in the 1911 New Year Honours for "services in connection with the North Atlantic Coast Fisheries Arbitration".[9] He resigned as Lord of Appeal two years later.
Family
Robson married Catharine Burge, daughter of Charles Burge, of Portland Place, London on 26 May 1887. They had a family.
Robson died, aged 66, at Telham Court, Battle, Sussex.
References
- Debretts House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1886
- "Robson, William Snowdon (RB875WS)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
-
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Robson, William Snowdon Robson, Baron". Encyclopædia Britannica. 32 (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. p. 288. - Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 4)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4)
- "No. 27865". The London Gazette. 19 December 1905. p. 9084.
- "No. 28396". The London Gazette. 19 July 1910. p. 5137.
- "No. 28425". The London Gazette. 18 October 1910. p. 7321.
- "No. 28452". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1911. p. 2.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Robson
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Bow and Bromley 1885–1886 |
Succeeded by Sir John Colomb |
| Preceded by James Cochran Stevenson |
Member of Parliament for South Shields 1895–1910 |
Succeeded by Russell Rea |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Edward Carson |
Solicitor General for England and Wales 1905–1908 |
Succeeded by Sir Samuel Evans |
| Preceded by Sir John Lawson Walton |
Attorney General for England and Wales 1908–1910 |
Succeeded by Sir Rufus Isaacs |