Robert Robinson, 1883 - 1941

Robert Robison was born in 1883 at Newark of Scottish parentage, both his father and mother being natives of Dumfries. He received his early education at Newark, first in a small private school and later at the Magnus Grammar School. In 1900 he matriculated and proceeded with a County scholarship to University College, Nottingham. At Nottingham, Robison did not hasten to acquire his professional qualifications; it was not until 1905 that he took his A. I.C., and only in 1907 that he graduated with the degree of B. Sc. This unusually prolonged period of undergraduate study was partly the result of interruption caused by illness; illness alone, however, was not the most important factor. Rather is the length of the apprenticeship which Robison gave himself significant evidence of the thoroughness and striving after perfection which were such outstanding characteristics of his later work. He made the fullest use of the time to lay the foundations of a sound knowledge of theoretical chemistry and of a high degree of practical skill, and while still an undergraduate he obtained some training in research by collaborating with Professor F. S. Kipping in the latter’s work on organic derivatives of silicon. His maturity at the stage of graduation is shown by the fact that in the same year (1907) he was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship.