Theophilus Robin

{{Short description|Australian merchant (c. 1830–1874)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} '''Theophilus Robin''' (pronounced ROE-bin) (c. 1830 – 19 September 1874) was a pioneer timber merchant in the early days of colonial South Australia. He was a brother of prominent businessman James Robin (1817–1894) and Adelaide land agent Charles Robin (c. 1826 – 27 November 1872).

==History== Robin was born in Guernsey, a son of Nicholas Robin (c. 1788 – 5 January 1873), and his wife Esther Robin, née De Quetteville (c. 1819 – 20 August 1855). She was a daughter of Rev. Jean de Quetteville "The Apostle of French Methodism".

In 1854 he took over the Lipson Street, Port Adelaide warehouse of S. R. Clarke & Co.

He was a partner in Padman & Co to 1864, then as timber merchant, built up premises on corner of Lipson Street and Port Road as Sarnia Timber Yard and Sarnia Steam Mills.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39178265 Native Industries] ''South Australian Register'' 5 June 1868 p.2 accessed 21 August 2011</ref> In 1859 Theophilus Robin and shipping agent Peter Le Messurier formed a partnership as Robin & Le Messurier. The partnership was dissolved on 31 August 1872.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39260715 Public Notices] ''South Australian Register'' 7 September 1872 p.2 accessed 20 August 2011</ref> leaving Theophilus to concentrate on the Sarnia Timber business.

He was a member of the Adelaide Philosophical Society and the Wesleyan Methodist church and for many years superintendent of the Archer Street Wesleyan Sunday School.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39821262 The Late Mr. Theo. Robin] ''South Australian Register'' 10 October 1874 supplement p.6 accessed 26 September 2011</ref>

Theophilus Robin married Stella Ann Ansell (c. 1837 – 19 July 1916) on 1 March 1855. Their children included: *Theophilus Hedley Robin (1859 – 12 June 1940) was a partner with Simon Harvey, Malcolm P. Reid (1882–1876) (son of Malcolm D. Reid) and William Haslam in Globe Timber Mills around 1920.  *Percy Ansell Robin MA (Lond), D.Litt. (1861 – 28 May 1937), was educated at Prince Alfred College.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13547634 | title=Colonial Institute Prize Essay | newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | date=13 December 1883}}</ref> He was a fine cricketer, playing for Queensland,<ref>[http://trove.nla.gov.au/dp/del/article/46830038 Newspaper archive] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> and had a distinguished career as a teacher in private schools, including Ipswich Grammar,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3480734 | title=Classified Advertising | newspaper=Brisbane Courier | date=20 July 1888 }}</ref> where he was appointed Classical Master in 1886<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28360245 | title=Advertising | newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | date=26 January 1886 }}</ref> and acting head two years later, and headmaster of the Church of England Grammar School, Ballarat in 1910,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5232498 | title="The Chronicle." | newspaper=Advertiser | date=25 August 1910 }}</ref> He was the author of ''Animal Lore in English Literature'' John Murray London 1932

Theophilus died of erysipelas following an infected boil on his leg, leaving a widow and nine children. His widow took on Theodore Hack as business partner, styling the business Robin & Hack.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39820316 | title=Advertising | newspaper=South Australian Register | date=12 November 1874 }}</ref> It was known simply as "Hack's Timber Yard" on 11 November 1884 when fire broke out, destroying not only the timber but woodworking machinery worth £5,000.

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robin, Theophilus}} Category:1830s births Category:1874 deaths Category:Colony of South Australia people Category:Australian timber merchants Category:19th-century Australian businesspeople