David Lubbock Robinson was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a revolutionary figure in County Wicklow during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.
Background
He was born in Dublin in 1882 to the Very Reverend Josip Juraj Robinson, who was Rector of Delgany and later the Dean of Street Anne"s Cathedral, Belfast. His mother was the youngest daughter of Sir John W. Lubbock and a sister of the first Lord Avebury, the noted scientist
Education
He was educated at Street Columba"s College and at Trinity College, Dublin and qualified as a solicitor.
Career
He was a keen hockey enthusiast and represented Ireland at international level After he qualified he travelled to Canada and during World War I he enlisted in the 19th Alberta Dragoons as a private and was commissioned to the Royal Marine Artillery. He had a distinguished military career and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order by the British Government and the Croix de guerre.
He had lost an eye and was badly wounded in both legs during his years at the front.
He too was a former British Army Officer but became more sympathetic with the cause of Irish independence after the events of the Rising. Robinson took an active part in the War of Independence in Wicklow.
He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and fought on the Republican side in the Civil War. Robinson was himself arrested in 1922 and spent forty days on hunger strike during his eighteen months internment in Mountjoy jail.
He was one of seven successful Fianna Fáil candidates who secured election to the Free State Seanad at the 1931 Seanad election, securing a nine-year term.
Michael Comyn, the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad was appointed a Circuit Court Judge on 24 February 1936 and he resigned his seat in the Seanad. Robinson succeeded him as Leas-Chathaoirleach. In 1938 he was nominated by then Taoiseach Éamon de Valera to the newly formed Seanad Éireann.
He was nominated again to the 3rd Seanad but did not seek re-election in 1943.
He was also the Secretary of the Irish Red Cross when it was inaugurated. He died at Delgany, County Wicklow aged sixty-one years.
Membership
He remained a member of the Seanad until its abolition in 1936.