William Robinson

Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (14 January 1834 – 2 May 1897) was an Irish colonial administrator and musical composer, who wrote several well-known songs. He was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, and was educated at home and at the Royal Naval School. He joined the Colonial Office service in 1858 and became the president of Montserrat in 1862.

He married Olivia Edith Deane in 1862. He began serving as governor of the Falkland Islands in May 1866 and governed Prince Edward Island from 1870–1873, helping the island join a union with Canada. He became the governor of the Leeward Islands in 1874 and served his first term as the Western Australia governor from 1875–1877.

He was appointed governor of the Straits Settlements in 1877 and served as governor of Western Australia a second term from April 1880 to February 1883. Robinson became the governor of South Australia in 1883 until 1889. He was a temporary governor of Victoria, Australia in 1889, but was unable to be appointed permanently. He served his third term as governor of Western Australia from 1890–1895. He retired from his career in March 1895, at age 61. He then travelled to England and died on 2 May 1897, in South Kensington, London.

Early life Robinson was born at Rosmead in County Westmeath, Ireland, on 14 January 1834 to Admiral Hercules Robinson, a naval officer, and Frances Elizabeth Wood, as their fourth son. He received his education at both his home in Rosmead and at the Royal Naval School in New Cross, Surrey. He was described as tall and slim, in comparison to his more athletic brother, Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead (born Hercules George Robert), whom he "lived somewhat in the shadow of." Robinson accompanied Hercules as a private secretary again in 1859 when Hercules became the governor of Hong Kong. and kept this position until November 1873. for completing this task, the day when the island united with the dominion. and served from 11 January 1875 until 6 September 1877. Afterwards, Robinson was made governor of the Straits Settlements, a group of British territories in Southeast Asia whose headquarters were in Singapore, in 1877. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) the same year. Robinson travelled to Bangkok in 1878, so that he could provide the Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George to the King of Siam, and he subsequently received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Siam.

Later career (1883–1895) Robinson served as the governor of South Australia, beginning in February 1883; the song "Unfurl the Flag", which he had composed, was played during his inauguration in Adelaide. He had composed multiple songs previously in his life, including "Imperfectus", "I love thee so", "Remember me no more", "Severed", and "Thou art my Soul", Also in 1887, he turned down a request for his governorship of Hong Kong, as he did not want to undergo its harsh climate. During 1889, from 9 March to November, while Henry Brougham Loch was away, his return was praised enthusiastically by the citizens. According to the Australian Dictionary of National Biography, "he knew and understood more about Western Australia than any other imperial officer." Robinson chose John Forrest to be the first Premier of Western Australia. Robinson had little to do involving politics as governor, due to the fact that Forrest was dominant over the cabinet and parliament, as well as because of constitutional conventions. His time as governor included the transition of the colony to self-governance in 1890. Robinson was offered the position of the colony's first agent general by Forrest 1891; however, he declined the offer.

Retirement and death Robinson retired from his governing career in March 1895, when he was 61 years old. Thereafter, he travelled to London and became the director of many companies. Robinson died on 2 May 1897, two years after his retirement, in South Kensington, London, within the 5 Cromwell Houses, which he resided in. At the time of his death, he and his wife had two daughters and three sons. He had £84,058 estate money left after his death. The Times wrote the following in his obituary:

Honours Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (C.M.G), 1873 Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (K.C.M.G), 1877 Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (G.C.M.G), 1887

In central Perth, Robinson Avenue, Robinson Road and Cleaver Street were named after Robinson (whose second name was Cleaver).

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the natural harbour Port Robinson (also known as Anketell Port), and the townsite of Cleaverville (gazetted, but never occupied), as well as Cleaverville Creek were named after Robinson.