Sir John Robinson

Sir John Robinson, first baronet, was a merchant, financier, and politician. During the years of the civil war and interregnum he built up business interests and achieved prominence in London politics. In the 1650s he served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and an assistant of the Levant Company. Beginning from 1655 until his death he was an alderman of London, sheriff in 1657/8, and lord mayor of London in 1662/3.

Robinson was a royalist, and after the death of Oliver Cromwell (1658) he worked to promote a Stuart restoration. For his contribution he was knighted and created baronet in 1660. For three time he was elected to Parliament – in 1660, 1661, and 1679. Robinson was regular lender to the government, and in 1662 he became head of a syndicate which contracted to farm the excise for London, Middlesex, and Surrey.

Besides being a member of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and the Levant Company, he was a member of the new Company of Royal Adventurers trading into Africa from its inception; he was a committee member of the East India Company in 1666–7, 1668–74, and 1675–7; deputy governor of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670–75.