Elisha Smith Robinson

Elisha Smith Robinson 1817-1885 was the son of a Gloucestershire paper maker Edward Robinson. In 1840 his father threatened to replace him within the family business with a Londoner so he ventured to Bristol with a small loan and within 20 years his own printing and packaging business E. S. & A. Robinson was the largest buyer of paper in the British Empire. He was a staunch Baptist

Career

Founded E. S. & A. Robinson in 1844^[1]

Mayor of Bristol in 1866.^[2]

Elected as Liberal Member of Parliament for Bristol (UK Parliament constituency) in 1870 but unseated on a technicality.

A Justice of the Peace

Chairman of the Port and Pier Railway (now Severn Beach Line)

Foundation stone on the front Chipping Campden Baptist Church reads "This stone was laid by Elisha Smith Robinson Esq - of Bristol on the 19th June 1872^[3]

President of the Grateful Society ^[4] in 1880.

Founder and benefactor to Colston Hall where there is a relief^[5]

He died in 1885. Sermon by Reverend Richard Glover published.^{[6] [7]}

Monument at Arnos Vale Cemetery.

His Family and Cricket

Elisha’s interest in Cricket was inspired by two of his brothers:-

• Philip Robinson ^[8] 1830-1886 founder of Robinson & Co in Singapore and
• John Robinson ^[9] 1820-1886 founder of John Robinsons of Gloucester.

In 1878 Charles Parnell of West Town Cricket Club near Bristol proposed to Alfred Robinson, John’s son, that he assemble a team to play on the August Bank Holiday. Alfred responded with a team made up entirely of Robinsons. From that day until 1964 Robinsons fielded a cricket XI on that bank holiday against various teams including one made up entirely of Graces in 1891.^[10]

Robinson first class cricketers descended from Elisha include:-

• Arthur Robinson,^[11] son of Elisha, 1855-1913 played for Gloucestershire, ran E. S. & A. Robinson with his brother Edward, 1893 President of the Grateful Society.^[12]
• Percy Gotch Robinson, grandson, 1881–1951, played for Gloucestershire.^[13]
• Douglas C Robinson, grandson, 1884–1963, captained Gloucestershire, played for Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Gentlemen of England and England in 1924 ^[14]
• Vivian Robinson, grandson, 1897–1979, played for Gloucestershire,^[15] High Sheriff of Bristol 1936 ^[16]
• Foster Robinson, Grandson, 1880–1957, played for London County and Gloucestershire,^[17] Chairman of E. S. & A. Robinson

Edward Robinson 1853-1935 was the third son of Elisha Smith Robinson; Mayor of Bristol in 1908. Chairman & managing director E. S. & A. Robinson, Vice chairman of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, President of the Anchor Society in 1887, appointed a magistrate in 1889, Vice chairman of the Bristol South Liberal Association.^[18]

References

Persondata
Name	Robinson, Elisha Smith
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1817
Place of birth
Date of death	1885
Place of death