Admiral Sir Robert Spencer Robinson, (6 January 1809 – 27 July 1889) was a British naval officer, who served as two five-year terms as Controller of the Navy from February 1861 to February 1871, and was therefore responsible for the procurement of warships at a time when the Royal Navy was changing over from unarmoured wooden ships to ironclads. As a result of the Captain disaster, Robinson was not given a third term as Controller. Robinson has been "described as having one of the best brains of any Victorian admiral".
Personal life
He was born at Welford Park, Berkshire, the son of Sir John Freind Robinson, 1st Baronet (1754–1832), Archdeacon of Armagh, who had changed the family surname from Freind to Robinson in 1793.
On 10 May 1841, he married Clementina, daughter of Admiral Sir John Louis.
Early naval career
Robinson entered the Navy on 6 December 1821. He was promoted to lieutenant on 27 September 1830, and from 5 May 1831 until 1834 served as lieutenant in the 50-gun razee frigate Dublin, commanded by Lord James Townshend. Dublin was flagship on the South America station. In 1836 he was appointed to the 84-gun two-decker Asia. Asia was commissioned on 18 March 1836 by Captain William Fisher, and served in the Mediterranean. On 26 September 1837, he was appointed to the 28-gun frigate Tyne, which had been commissioned on 5 September 1837 by Captain John Townshend, and was also serving in Mediterranean. On 28 June 1838, he was promoted to commander.
In April 1839, he completed a book: The Nautical Steam Engine Explained, and Its Powers and Capabilities Described for the Officers of the Navy and Others Interested in the Important Results of Steam Navigation.
On 20 July 1839 he was appointed captain of the 6-gun paddle-sloop Phoenix, serving in the Mediterranean. However the captain of the 4-gun paddle-sloop Hydra, Commander Anthony William Milward died, and Robinson was appointed to Hydra (also serving in the Mediterranean). A replacement for Robinson as captain of the Phoenix was appointed on 1 March 1840. Under Robinson Hydra took part in Commodore Charles Napier's attack on Sidon in September 1840. Robinson was promoted to captain on 5 November 1840; a replacement for Robinson as captain of Hydra was appointed on 26 December 1840.
Captain Robinson
In 1847, he wrote "Observations on the Steam Ships of the Royal Navy".
On 15 February 1850, Robinson was appointed as captain of the 46-gun screw-frigate Arrogant in the Channel Fleet off Lisbon, where he replaced Captain Robert Fitzroy. Arrogant paid off at Portsmouth on 26 September 1852.
On 15 June 1854, Robinson commissioned the new 80-gun screw two-decker Colossus at Portsmouth. Colossus served on the North America and West Indies station in 1854, and then in 1855 in the Baltic during what is now called the Crimean War. Robinson left Colossus on 24 January 1856.
On 13 February 1856, Robinson was appointed captain of the 102-gun screw three-decker Royal George, which was one of the ships that transported the British Army back from the Crimea after the conclusion of the campaign there. The Royal George paid off at Sheerness on 28 August 1856.
On 25 August 1856, Robinson was appointed Superintendent of the Steam Reserve at Devonport, flying his flag in the 60-gun screw 'blockship' Ajax. from 1 February 1858 until May 1859, he was captain of the 90-gun screw-two-decker Exmouth guard ship of ordinary, Devonport.
Robinson was promoted to rear admiral on 9 June 1860.
Controller
On 7 Feb 1861 Rear Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker resigned as Controller of the Navy. Rear Admiral Robinson was appointed to replace him.
As Controller, "Rear Admiral Robert Spencer Robinson... was an iron-willed administrator for an ironclad age. Bitterly dissatisfied with the private contractors as well as dockyard obfuscation, Robinson steadily applied pressure on the Board for greater control and greater centralisation, not just in the hands of Their Lordships, but more his own. It was the only way to directly insure the work would be completed as required. In the person of Chief Constructor, Edward Reed, the Controller was able to combine the new architecture of naval power with its execution.'"