John Robinson

chaplain Diplomat priest Bishop of London

November 7, 1650 (age 72)

Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he became a fellow of Oriel College, and in about 1680 he became chaplain to the British embassy to Stockholm. He remained in Sweden for nearly thirty years. During the absence of the minister, Philip Warwick, Robinson acted as resident and as envoy extraordinary, and he was thus in Sweden during a very interesting and important period, and was performing diplomatic duties at a time when the affairs of northern Europe were attracting an unusual amount of attention. Among his adventures not the least noteworthy was his journey to Narva with Charles XII in 1700. In August 1711 he became Lord Privy Seal, this being, says Lord Stanhope, "the last time that a bishop has been called upon to fill a political office." Echoing his Scandanvian connections, the motto on his coat of arms is written in runic characters. In 1712 the bishop represented Great Britain at the important congress of Utrecht, and as first plenipotentiary he signed the treaty of Utrecht in April 1713 that ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Just after his return to England he was chosen Bishop of London in succession to Henry Compton. In 1718 he fostered a plan for the union of the English and Swedish churches, supported by Count Gyllenberg, Swedish Ambassador to London. The plan fell through because of the opposition of most Swedish bishops, although Svedberg of Skara and Gezelius, Bishop of Turku (Finland) were in favour. He died at Hampstead, having been a great benefactor to Oriel College, and is buried at All Saints Church, Fulham, London. Robinson"s older brother, Christopher Robinson, immigrated to the Virginia Colony and became the patriarch of one of Virginia"s First Families.

John Robinson

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chaplain Diplomat priest Bishop of London

Background

Robinson was born at Cleasby, North Yorkshire, near Darlington, a son of John Robinson (died 1651).

Education

Brasenose College.

Career

Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he became a fellow of Oriel College, and in about 1680 he became chaplain to the British embassy to Stockholm. He remained in Sweden for nearly thirty years. During the absence of the minister, Philip Warwick, Robinson acted as resident and as envoy extraordinary, and he was thus in Sweden during a very interesting and important period, and was performing diplomatic duties at a time when the affairs of northern Europe were attracting an unusual amount of attention.

Among his adventures not the least noteworthy was his journey to Narva with Charles XII in 1700.

In August 1711 he became Lord Privy Seal, this being, says Lord Stanhope, "the last time that a bishop has been called upon to fill a political office." Echoing his Scandanvian connections, the motto on his coat of arms is written in runic characters. In 1712 the bishop represented Great Britain at the important congress of Utrecht, and as first plenipotentiary he signed the treaty of Utrecht in April 1713 that ended the War of the Spanish Succession.

Just after his return to England he was chosen Bishop of London in succession to Henry Compton. In 1718 he fostered a plan for the union of the English and Swedish churches, supported by Count Gyllenberg, Swedish Ambassador to London.

The plan fell through because of the opposition of most Swedish bishops, although Svedberg of Skara and Gezelius, Bishop of Turku (Finland) were in favour.

He died at Hampstead, having been a great benefactor to Oriel College, and is buried at All Saints Church, Fulham, London. Robinson"s older brother, Christopher Robinson, immigrated to the Virginia Colony and became the patriarch of one of Virginia"s First Families.

Membership

A member of the same family was Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson and Gary Weiss, critic of Patrick M. Byrne.

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John Robinson

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