Background
He was born in Sywell, the eldest son of George Samuel Robertson (1825-1874) and his wife, Helen née Kerr, and grandson of Archibald Robertson (physician), of Northampton.
He was born in Sywell, the eldest son of George Samuel Robertson (1825-1874) and his wife, Helen née Kerr, and grandson of Archibald Robertson (physician), of Northampton.
He was educated at Bradfield College and Trinity College, Oxford where he graduated with a first class degree in Classics. He received an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Laws) from the University of Glasgow in June 1901.
From 1883 to 1897 he was Master of Hatfield Hall in Durham. He went on to serve as Principal of King"s College London from 1897 to 1903, during which he was elected to serve as Vice-Chancellor of the University of London for the year 1902-1903. He was elected Bishop of Exeter in 1903, serving until 1916.
Robertson married in 1885, shortly after his arrival in Durham.
They had three sons.