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Hawaiian politician (1852–1915) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Prever Robinson (July 4, 1852 – April 2, 1915) was a Hawaiian business magnate and politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Hawaii under the reign of Liliuokalani. During times of political upheaval and financial stress of Hawaii's changing governments, Robinson joined with other business men to come to the financial aid of the government.
Mark P. Robinson | |
|---|---|
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| Kingdom of Hawaii Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office November 8, 1892 – January 12, 1893 | |
| Monarch | Liliʻuokalani |
| Preceded by | Joseph Nāwahī |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Parker |
| House of Nobles | |
| In office 1892–1892 | |
| House of Nobles | |
| In office 1887–1888 | |
| Monarch | Kalākaua |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 4, 1852 Honolulu |
| Died | April 2, 1915 (aged 62) Honolulu |
| Spouse | Sophia Louisa Campbell |
| Parents |
|
| Occupation | Financier, business magnate, politician |
Known professionally as M. P. Robinson, he was born July 4, 1852, in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was the eldest son, and fifth of nine children, born to British immigrant John James Robinson (1799–1876) and Rebecca Prever (1817– 1882), a descendant of Hawaiian chiefess Kamakana.[1]
In 1875, Robinson and his brother-in-law S. C. (Samuel Clesson) Allen of Kauai formed the Allen & Robinson Lumber Company and became engaged in the operation of inter-island sailing ships. With other partners he formed Marshall, Campbell & Robinson, which operated a fleet of inter-island side-wheel paddle steamers.[2] Robinson was an investor in Hawaii sugar plantations, and helped found the First National Bank. He partnered with Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, S. C. Allen, James Bicknell Castle, Robert Lewers and John H. Paty in 1889 to establish the Oahu Railway and Land Company. Robinson was the rail company's first treasurer, and one of its steady customers in shipping produce from his banana plantation to buyers.[3]
During the 1900 Bubonic Plague epidemic, much of Honolulu's Chinatown was destroyed by fires that were ignited by the Territory of Hawaii Board of Health in an attempt to eradicate the source of the plague. The immediate resulting damage claims overwhelmed the territorial government's ability to reimburse property owners. Pending funding from the United States government, Robinson was one of several business owners who advanced money to the territorial government for claims settlements.[4]
Robinson was a member of the House of Nobles of the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii for the Special Session of November 3, 1887 – May 28, 1888, Special Session of May 29 – September 11, 1888, and the 1892 Legislative Session of the Kingdom of Hawaii.[5]
Although a supporter of the monarchy, Robinson took exception with the Walter M. Gibson cabinet expenditures and schemes during the reign of King Kalākaua. He became a member of the Committee of Safety that drafted the Bayonet Constitution of 1887 which codified the legislature as the supreme authority over any actions by the monarchy.[6] During the reign of Queen Liliʻuokalani, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 8, 1892 to January 12, 1893 under the George Norton Wilcox cabinet which had political inclination toward the Reform Party. This cabinet was ousted by the legislature and he was replaced by the queen with Samuel Parker, shortly before the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on January 17.[7][8]
Claus Spreckels, who had close ties with the monarchy, loaned $95,000 to the Provisional Government of Hawaii. Robinson joined with other business men to finance a repayment of the loan, to prevent Spreckels from having leverage in any counter revolution to restore the monarchy. Robinson served on the Republic of Hawaii Council of State under President Sanford B. Dole.[9]
Rebecca Prever was the second wife of John James Robinson. With his first wife, he had children both his own and one step-daughter. Below are the nine children born to Rebecca Prever and John James Robinson:[10][11]
After a lengthy period of insomnia that drove him to the brink of insanity, Robinson killed himself on April 2, 1915. He left a note for his son explaining his actions. At the time of his death, he belonged to several fraternal organizations, including the Freemasons, Scottish Rites and the Knights Templar.[28] His estate was estimated at $419,720.23 (equivalent to $12,641,311 in 2023), mostly land and other investments. A Canadian broker had been in negotiations in 1910 to put Robinson's private library on the auction block. At the time, it was said to be one of the most extensive libraries in a private collection. The deal was never completed, and the library was estimated at $57,000 at the time of his death.[29]
The following are the children of John James Robinson and his first wife. They are a half-brother and two half-sisters to Mark P. Robinson:
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