George Robinson

George Robinson (bapt. 20 December 1736 – 6 June 1801) was an English bookseller and publisher working in London.

Robinson published The Lady's Magazine and a serial reference work, The New Annual Register, as well as fiction and non-fiction. He was also known for publishing books written by women.

Life Robinson was baptised at Dalston, Cumberland, in December 1736, and about 1755 migrated to London in search of work. John Nichols later said that Robinson came with "a decent education, and a great share of natural sense and shrewdness."

He was an assistant to John Rivington (1720–1792), a publisher in St Paul's Churchyard, and later worked for a Mr. Johnstone on Ludgate Hill. In about 1763 he and a friend, John Roberts, went into business in Paternoster Row as booksellers. In setting himself up in business, Robinson had the support of Thomas Longman, "who liberally, and unasked, offered him any sum, on credit, that might be wanted". By 1780, he was also a large book wholesaler. In 1784, he took his son George into the business, making him a partner, and also his much younger brother John (1753–1813).

On 26 November 1793, Robinson's company was fined for selling copies of Thomas Paine's Rights of Man.

Thomas Cadell said of George Robinson's integrity that "too much cannot be said." Another bookseller, William West, recorded some anecdotes of Robinson and his hospitality at his villa at Streatham, calling him "the Prince, nay, the King of Booksellers".

Robinson died in Paternoster Row on 6 June 1801. His son and his brother continued the business, but George died in 1811 and John in 1813. Wyndham Beawes Lex Mercatoria rediviva, or, The merchant's directory : being a complete guide to all men in business, whether as traders, remitters, owners, freighters, captains, insurers, brokers, factors, supercargoes, agents, containing an account of our mercantile companies; of our colonies and factories abroad; of our commercial treaties with foreign powers; of the duty of consuls, and of the laws concerning aliens, naturalization, and denization (1783) George Berkeley, The Works of George Berkeley, D.D. Late Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland. To which is added, an account of his life, and several of his letters to Thomas Prior, Esq. Dean Gervais, and Mr. Pope, &c. &c. (1784, in two volumes) John Ferdinand Smyth, A Tour of the United States of America (1784) Robert Beatson, A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain and Ireland; or, A complete register of the hereditary honours, public offices, and persons in office, from the earliest periods to the present time (1786) Gregory Griffin, The Microcosm, a periodical work (1787) Louis de Chénier, The Present State of the Empire of Morocco: its animals, products, climate, soil, cities, ports, provinces, coins, weights, and measures. With the language, religion, laws, manners, customs, and character, of the Moors (1788) Jane Timbury, A Sequel to the Philanthropic Rambler (London: G.G.J. & J. Robinson, R. Faulder, J. Southern, 1791) John Rannie, Poems. 2nd Ed.(1791) Charlotte Smith, Desmond (3 vols., 1792) Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho (4 vols., 1794) Ann Radcliffe, A Journey Made in the Summer of 1794 (1795) Eliza Hamilton, Translation of the letters of a Hindoo rajah (1796) William Godwin, The Enquirer: reflections on education, manners, and literature (1797) Helen Maria Williams, A tour in Switzerland, or, A view of the present state of the governments and manners of those cantons : with comparative sketches of the present state of Paris (1798) Thomas Bewick, A History of British Birds (Newcastle: Beilby and Bewick; London: G. G. & J. Robinson; vol. 1, 1797, vol. 2, 1804)