When the War of 1812 began, John was a young lawyer in York (now Toronto).
During the War of 1812, John Beverley Robinson served as a lieutenant and captain in the 3rd York Militia. In 1812, he served as a lieutenant in Capt. Stephen Heward’s 2nd Flank Company. [3]
In August, 1812, he served as a lieutenant at the Capture of Detroit where he received the General Service Medal. [4]
On Oct. 13, 1812, as the Americans began crossing the Niagara River, he had command of Capt. Heward’s Co. which was stationed below Queenston at Brown’s Point. [5]
From Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 1812, he served in Capt. Heward’s Co. [6]
On his return to York with prisoners, he was informed that he had been made acting Attorney General of Upper Canada, although he was only 21 years of age. [7]
On Dec. 25, 1812, he was promoted to captain. [8]
On Apr. 27, 1813, he was taken prisoner at the Capture of York. [9]
From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he was absent from his company. [10]
On June 5, 1815, he was recorded as a captain. [11]
On March 30, 1820, he received a militia land grant, as the Attorney General in the Town of York and a former lieutenant in Capt. Heward’s Flank Company, of 500 acres on Lots 12 and 13, Con. 13, and the broken front of Lot 12, Con. 14, Innisfil Twp., Simcoe County. [12]
Born in Quebec in 1791 to a family of loyalist heritage, John Beverley Robinson was educated at Bishop Strachan’s school. He began to study law in 1807, and was articling with the Attorney General of Upper Canada, John Macdonell, when war broke out in 1812. After Macdonell was killed in June 1812, Robinson was named Acting Attorney General. He was a mere 21 years old at the time. He was not even qualified as a lawyer. He held the post for about two years.
The responsibilities of the Attorney General at that time were important. The Attorney General provided the government with legal opinions on a variety of issues and before the advent of Crown Attorneys in 1857, personally handled the crown prosecution of criminals. During the war Robinson prosecuted a number of people for treason, and some of them were hanged after their convictions.
After the war, Robinson was called to the bar in Upper Canada in 1815 and in England in 1823. Upon becoming a lawyer he held the position of Solicitor General of Upper Canada, and then served again as Attorney General from 1818 to 1829. In 1829 he became Chief Justice of Upper Canada.
Robinson is possibly best remembered as a member of the “Family Compact,” the small Toronto elite that ruled the colony for decades. Robinson died at Toronto in 1863.[6]
More at Wikipedia: [7]
There's an interesting story about Anne (Murray) Powell and her obsession with JBR.[13].[14]
While the Robinsons were visiting in England, the Duke of Wellington invited them to spend the Christmas holidays of 1840 with him. At this event they met Charles Dickens for the first time. When the Robinsons returned to Canada West, they invited Dickens to their home during his visit to Canada in May 1842. A banquet given in Dickens’ honour at the Robinson’s "Beverley House" was the highlight of Toronto's social season that year. [8]
Family motto is PROPERE ET PROVIDE which translates as 'Quickly and Cautiously'. For more heraldic information please see this link[9]
See also:
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R > Robinson > John Beverley Robinson Bt
Categories: 3rd Regiment of York Militia, Canada, War of 1812 | Ontario, Jurists | Baronets Robinson of Toronto | Military General Service Medal | Canada, Notables | Notables | War of 1812
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