Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham

Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham, ( – 30 September 1770) was a British diplomat and politician who represented Thirsk and Christchurch in the House of Commons of Great Britain between 1727 and 1761.

Early life

Robinson was a younger son of Sir William Robinson, Bt (1655–1736) of Newby-on-Swale, Yorkshire, who was Member of Parliament for York from 1697 to 1722. His elder brother was Rear Admiral Sir Tancred Robinson.

He was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1712, gained a scholarship in 1714, and graduated B.A. 1716, M.A. 1719. He gained a fellowship at Trinity in 1718, and was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1723.

Career Robinson gained his earliest diplomatic experience in Paris. after his eldest brother, for whom the seat had originally been intended, resigned his pretensions to him. He was absent, presumably on account of his diplomatic duties, from all the recorded divisions of that Parliament.

Southern Secretary

In 1754 Robinson was appointed Secretary of State for the Southern Department and Leader of the House of Commons by the prime minister, the Duke of Newcastle, and it was on this occasion that Pitt made the famous remark to Fox, "the duke might as well have sent us his jackboot to lead us." In November 1755 he resigned, and in April 1761 he was created Baron Grantham.