Christopher Robinson (Irish judge) facts for kids
Christopher Robinson (born 1712, died 1787) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. For many years, he was one of the most senior judges in Ireland's main courts. People often remember him for giving the famous adventurer Francis Higgins the nickname "The Sham Squire." He also had a huge collection of law books, which became the start of the Library at King's Inns, a famous place for lawyers in Dublin.
Early Life and Career
Christopher Robinson was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the oldest son of Bryan Robinson, who was a well-known doctor and professor at Trinity College Dublin. His father was also the head of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Christopher was taught at home and then went to Trinity College Dublin in 1729. He later studied law in London at a place called Lincoln's Inn. He became a lawyer in 1737 and a senior lawyer in 1745. Sometimes, he even worked as an extra judge. Christopher had strong beliefs, but he wasn't very interested in politics and never joined the Irish Parliament.
Becoming a Judge
In 1758, Christopher Robinson became a judge in the Court of King's Bench (Ireland). He served on this court for nearly 30 years until he died. It was said that he got this job because he wrote papers supporting the government.
One of his most famous cases was in 1767. It involved a man named Francis Higgins, who was known for tricking people. Higgins was on trial for hurting his mother-in-law. It was during this trial that Judge Robinson first called Higgins "The Sham Squire," and the name stuck! Higgins went to prison for a while, but he later became a lawyer, a local official, and even gave information to the government.
Christopher Robinson also held a special role as the manager of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
His Family
In 1758, Christopher married Elizabeth Martin. They had a son, also named Christopher, who became a clergyman (a church leader) in Granard, County Longford.
The younger Christopher married Elizabeth Langrishe. They had several children, including a son named Hercules, who became an Admiral in the navy. Hercules was the grandfather of Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead , who became a very important person. Another grandson, Sir Bryan Robinson, also became a judge, just like his grandfather, and worked in Newfoundland.
His Personality
Because he was a senior judge, Christopher Robinson was a well-known public figure. He had strong opinions about how the government should work. He believed in strict rules and followed the law very closely.
People said he could be quite serious and sometimes had a sharp way of speaking. However, his speeches to juries in Dublin showed that he was also very smart and cared about people. He was also known for being very afraid of thunderstorms!
His Amazing Library
Christopher Robinson loved books, especially law books, and collected a huge number of them. After he died, his son, Christopher, didn't need all those law books. So, he decided to sell them.
The lawyers at King's Inns bought most of the collection in 1788. These books became the very first collection for the King's Inns Library, which is still an important library for lawyers today.
