Richard Robinson (1787 - 1847)

Born 4 Mar 1787 in Rathangan, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Biography

Richard was born on 4 Mar 1787 at Kildare, Ireland. He was the eldest son and heir of John Friend and Mary Ann Spencer. He was a soldier during the Peninsular War. He was involved in the retreat to Corunna in 1808/09 and the Battle of Barrosa in 1811. Barrosa was not a major battle, but it was a great victory and a fine feat of arms. A mere 5,000 British infantry took on 9,000 French and , against all the odds, defeated them. They also captured an eagle from the French 8th Regiment. It was the first one taken in Wellington's campaign. One of the two French divisional commanders, Laval, spoke of " the incredibility of so rash an attack" and he was right. It was a supreme example of boldness earning its just reward, thanks to the courage and leadership of the British divisional commander, Major-General Thomas Graham. It also proved yet again the superiority of the disciplined British line and its deadly fire-power over the French column. There is a portrait of Sir Richard Robinson, Baronet, which includes a depiction of his armorials and campaign medals "To the British Army, Corunna, Barossa". It has recently been purchased by the current owners of Rokeby Hall, Co. Louth, Ireland as part of their restoration efforts.

On 9 Feb 1813 Richard married Lady Helena Eleanor Moore of Moore Park. She was a daughter of Stephen Moore, 2nd Earl of Mountcashell, and had issue. Richard succeeded as the 2nd Baronet Robinson of Rokeby Hall on the death of his father on 16 Apr 1832. Early in the 1840s he took up residence at Rokeby Hall, the first member of his family to live there since 1798. In 1844 he became High Sheriff of Louth, Ireland. He died in 1847. ^[1]

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Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information as provided, in part, by Jonathan Every and as compiled by Michael Fraser-Allen, Thursday, September 11, 2014. Replace this citation if there is another source.

Wellington's Peninsular War by (Major-General Sir) Julian Paget