Background
Robertson was born in Glasgow.
Robertson was born in Glasgow.
He studied the local flora and fauna and established Millport as a significant area for marine biological research.
From age 8 he worked as a herd boy in Ayrshire, Scotland but eventually went on to gain a medical degree. His interests turned to the study of Natural History in the town he regularly visited, Millport, in the Firth of Clyde. In 1885 he had the "Ark", an old floating laboratory, drawn up on shore, at Portuguese Loy, Cumbrae.
Work was progressing on the building of the present Marine Station and museum when Robertson died aged 90.
The station opened in 1897 and consisted of a laboratory, museum, and public aquarium. With George Stewardson Brady (1832–1921) and HW Crosskey he wrote A Monograph of the Post-Tertiary Entomostraca of Scotland, printed for the Palaeontographical Society.
With Crosskey he wrote on the post-tertiary fossiliferous beds of Scotland (Transport Geological Social Glasgow). Robertson was known as "The Cumbrae Naturalist".
He persuaded members of the professional and business community in Glasgow to fund a permanent marine research station there.