James Robin
James Robin was a prominent businessman in the early days of colonial South Australia. Several of his descendants were significant, in the Methodist Church and other fields. Also worthy of mention are his brothers Charles and Theophilus Robin.
Their father, Nicholas Robin, a citizen of Guernsey, was married to Esther de Quetteville, daughter of Rev. Jean de Quetteville "The Apostle of French Methodism". He died at his home at St Jacques, Guernsey.
History
James Robin was born on Guernsey and educated at Elizabeth College. Around 1835 he left for Brazil, where he spent six years with the firm of Bramley Moore & Co, returned to Liverpool, where he established a shipping agency, and married a daughter of Thomas Rowland of Gravesend, in 1844.In May 1851 he arrived in Adelaide, where he set up a wholesale import business Robin & Le Bair.
In 1866 he was appointed vice-consul for Brazil, an honorary position he held until his death.
He had five sons and three daughters. At least three of his sons attended J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution. Those who featured at prizegivings were James, Rowland and Henry.
He suffered from a speech defect which prevented him from public speaking, but was an ardent Methodist church-goer, and was the prime mover behind the formation of Prince Alfred College at the Wesleyan Lecture Hall, Pirie Street. He was, with brother Theophilus, on the building committee in 1867 when Prince Alfred laid the foundation stone of the main building at Kent Town. Many boys from the various branches of the Robin family left their mark in the academic and sporting records of "P.A.C.".
- Eldest daughter Sophie married Samuel Fiddian M.A. on 9 January 1872. He was the first headmaster of Prince Alfred College, then proprietor and principal of Creswick Grammar School from 1872 to 1903. They lived in Creswick, Victoria.
- Eldest son James De Quetteville Robin married Mary Waterhouse on 15 October 1873.
- Second son Rowland Barbenson Robin married Mary Friend Whitney Canaway on 25 April 1883 He succeeded his father as vice-consul of Brazil.
- Third son Henry Nicholas Robin married Ada Marian Keeling on 21 February 1883
- Fifth son Allison Bedford Robin was in the first intake of students at Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1885 under Prof. John D. Custance.
- Youngest son Vincent John Robin MRCS, LRCP was a surgeon in Port Douglas, Queensland. He was educated at Samuel Fiddian's Grammar School in Creswick, Victoria, and the University of Adelaide 1886. He married Sarah Ann "Daisy" Buchanan on 28 June 1901.
James Robin & Co.
Charles
James Robin's brother, Charles Robin, was a land dealer with an office in Gilbert Street, Adelaide. He arrived in South Australia in October 1851, a few months after his brother James.In the London office of Robert Torrens in 1851, with fellow Guernsey citizens James Thoume and N. P. Le Bair, Charles took a lease on the Kent Town section of Adelaide, then known as "Dr. Kent's Section", with an option to convert to freehold. He arrived in Adelaide in October to find that brother James had entered a business partnership with Captain Le Bair. In 1854, Charles, his brother James and Henry Ayers purchased part of the section from Dr. Benjamin Archer Kent without reference to his previous partners. This became the subject of complex litigation in 1858 brought on by Thoume and an associate William Frederick Blanchard. The suit was eventually dropped on condition of Charles meeting some of his opponents' costs.
He returned to Guernsey soon after being declared insolvent. Properties in Adelaide and Melbourne which he owned, or had mortgages on, had been liquidated for a fraction of their purchase price without his knowledge. Other properties in Port Adelaide and Port Augusta were liquidated after his death in Les Rohais, Guernsey.