Researching Thomas Robinson

Robinson was born at Weston. He became a corn merchant of Gloucester and was an Alderman and mayor of the city four times. He was also a J.P.

In 1873 Robinson stood in a by-election Gloucester after out manoeuvering former Liberal member John Joseph Powell for the candidature, but was defeated. He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucester in 1880 after the Liberals had established a party caucus chosen by ward meetings, resulting in improved organisation. However bribery and corruption were on a major scale in Gloucester and Robinson was unseated in the same year. His willingness to stand down and the unwillingness of the Conservatives to take matters further led to suspicions of collusion between the parties and a Royal Commission was set up to examine electoral practices. The Royal Commission concluded that Gloucester was among the most corrupt of the seven towns investigated and that bribery was endemic in all elections in the city. The Commission concluded that half of the electorate had taken bribes in 1880, and blamed local politicians for most of the corruption. Notwithstanding this, and the virtual halving of the electorate eligible to vote, Robinson was reelected for Gloucester in 1885 when representation had been reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

He was knighted in Queen Victoria's 1894 Birthday Honours.

Robinson worked as an Independent Financial Advisor. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and was elected to Larne Borough Council at the 1977 Northern Ireland local elections. He held his seat in 1981, and was elected Deputy Mayor of Larne in 1982, then Mayor in 1983.

Robinson was elected for the Coast Road district at the local 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1997 local elections. He was also elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996, representing East Antrim.

By 2000, Robinson had become a prominent critic of UUP leader David Trimble. He lost his council seat in 2001, and subsequently defected to the UK Unionist Party (UKUP). He stood for this new party at the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election, but took only 1.8% of the vote and was not elected.

Robinson stood again for Larne Borough Council at the 2005 local elections, this time as an independent candidate, but took only 57 votes and was again unsuccessful. He also failed to win a seat at the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, standing again for the UKUP, and subsequently joined the Traditional Unionist Voice party.

Robinson was born in London in 1869 the son of engraver Thomas Robinson (1838–1902), He attended the Islington School of Art. His younger brothers Charles and W. Heath (or Heath Robinson) were illustrators.