Sidney Robinson (politician)

Sidney Robinson, circa 1905.

Sidney Robinson (6 January 1863 – 6 December 1956) was a Liberal Party politician and Timber trader.

Background

He was the fourth son of John Robinson, of Backwell House, Somerset. He was educated at Mill Hill School. He married in 1887, Catherine Flora Grant of Cardiff. She died in 1935.^[1]

Business career

In 1880 he moved to Cardiff and worked in the timber trade with Messrs. John Grant & Co. He subsequently bought the company and then became a partner with T.W. David. They re-named the business Robinson, David & Co. He was elected President of the Bristol Channel Timber Importers Association.^[2]

Political career

In 1895 he was elected as a Liberal to Cardiff Town Council representing Splott Ward. He stood down from the Council in 1901. He opposed the Conservative Government's Education Bill which drew him back into Cardiff politics. He became President of Cardiff Liberal Association.^[3] He was elected to the House of Commons at his first attempt, at the 1906 general election, for the Breconshire constituency. He had been selected in succession to Liberal MP, Charles Morley who had held the seat since 1895.

In 1907 he was appointed as a Justice of the Peace to serve in Glamorgan.^[4] He was re-elected at both the January 1910 and December 1910 elections.

From 1911 he served as a Justice of the Peace in Wiltshire and Somerset.^[5] For the 1918 General Election there were boundary changes that merged Robinson's Breconshire constituency with the Radnorshire constituency of his Liberal colleague Sir Francis Edwards to form the new Brecon and Radnorshire constituency. Robinson was chosen by the new local Liberal Association to contest the seat and Edwards retired from parliament. Robinson's candidacy was further endorsed by Lloyd George and the Coalition Government, which was enough to deter any other candidate from standing.

With the approach of the 1922 general election, Robinson retired from parliament at the age of 59.

Election results

General Election 1906: Breconshire [6] Electorate 12,235
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Sidney Robinson	5,776	62.3
	Conservative	Hon. Robert Charles Devereux	3,499	37.7
Majority			2,277	24.6
Turnout				75.8
	Liberal hold		Swing

General Election January 1910: Breconshire [7] Electorate 13,432
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Sidney Robinson	6,335	62.1
	Conservative	Hon. Robert Charles Devereux	3,865	37.9
Majority			2,470	24.2
Turnout				75.9
	Liberal hold		Swing

General Election December 1910: Breconshire [8] Electorate 13,432
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Sidney Robinson	5,511	60.3
	Conservative	John Conway Lloyd	3,631	39.7
Majority
Turnout
	Liberal hold		Swing

General Election 1918 Electorate
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Sidney Robinson	unopposed	n/a	n/a
	Liberal hold		Swing	n/a

References

1. http://www.ukwhoswho.com
2. General Election 1906 Wales and Monmouthshire
3. General Election 1906 Wales and Monmouthshire
4. http://www.ukwhoswho.com
5. http://www.ukwhoswho.com
6. British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
7. British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
8. British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sidney Robinson