David Robinson (philanthropist) facts for kids
Sir David Robinson (born April 13, 1904 – died January 10, 1987) was a very successful British businessman and a generous person who gave a lot of money to good causes. He is famous for donating millions of pounds to the University of Cambridge to create a brand new college. He also helped build a hospital named after his mother.
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Sir David Robinson: A Generous Life
Sir David Robinson was a remarkable person who started from humble beginnings and became incredibly successful. He then used his wealth to help many people and institutions. His donations made a lasting impact, especially in Cambridge, where he was born.
Early Life and First Businesses
David Robinson was born in Cambridge, England. He was one of nine children. His father owned a shop that sold and repaired bicycles, and later, a garage. David went to the Cambridge and County High School for Boys. This school was set up to help boys who wanted to work in business.
David left school when he was just fifteen years old. He started working in his father's bicycle shop. This was his first step into the world of business.
Building a Business Empire
In 1930, David moved to Bedford. There, he took over a garage and worked hard to make it a very successful company. He was always looking for new ideas. In the late 1930s, he started a new business. He began renting out radios and televisions. This idea was very popular and made him a lot of money. He became a very wealthy man through his smart business choices.
Giving Back: His Amazing Donations
Sir David Robinson was incredibly generous. He believed in giving back to the community. He made two huge donations that changed things forever in Cambridge:
- He gave £18 million to the University of Cambridge. This money was used to build a brand new college, which was named Robinson College, Cambridge in his honor. It is the newest college at the university and officially opened in 1981.
- He also donated £3 million to start the Rosie Hospital. This hospital was named after his mother, Rosie Emily Tricker. Today, the Rosie Hospital is an important part of Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
A Champion in Horse Racing
Besides his businesses and charity work, Sir David Robinson was also very involved in horse racing. In the late 1960s and 1970s, he owned many winning racehorses. These horses also brought him significant profits. His racing stables, called Clarehaven, were among the largest in England. He had a large group of horses, usually between 120 and 150. These horses were trained by two different trainers, Michael Jarvis and Paul Davey.
Legacy and Knighthood
For his great contributions and generosity, David Robinson was made a knight in 1985. This meant he was given the title "Sir." He passed away two years later, in 1987, in Newmarket. Newmarket is a famous place in England for horse racing. Sir David Robinson is remembered for his business success, his love for horse racing, and especially for his amazing generosity that helped build a college and a hospital.
