b'Sir Arthur Robinson Sir Arthur Robinson was a direct descendant of Sir ThomasSir Arthur was legal adviser to mining and industrial More, the patron saint of attorneys, statesmen and politicians.enterprises and a director of numerous companies including Sir Thomas was an English lawyer who served as Lordthe Ford Motor Company of Australia, the Zinc Corporation Chancellor of England from 1529 to 1533, before he was(which later became Rio Tinto), International Harvester beheaded for refusing to swear the Oath of SupremacyCompany of Australia, Bank of Adelaide, British Australian acknowledging Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church Lead Manufacturers, Australian Deposit & Mortgage Bank, of England.AMP Society, Central Insurance, Melbourne Electric Supply Company and the Colonial Gas Association. In 1926 he led a That Sir Arthur would go on to a career in law and politicssuccessful campaign against a referendum seeking to give was not surprising. He was born in Melbourne in 1872 intothe federal government wide-r anging control over industrial a home where political discussions were commonplace andrelations. A successful referendum would have been ambition was encouraged. His father was the commercialdisadvantageous to many of Sir Arthurs commercial clients.editor of The Age and frequent visitors to the family home included Sir Arthurs uncle, Sir Edmund Barton, AustraliasSir Arthur was honorary secretary of the Law Institute of first prime minister, and Alfred Deakin, Bartons successor.Victoria (1903 to 1918) and the Council of Legal Education (1904 to 1914). He was also a trustee of the Melbourne From a young age Sir Arthur exhibited an aptitude forCricket Ground and a member of the Melbourne Cricket writing and oration, often rehearsing his debates in frontClub. However, his longest standing commitment was to his of his younger brother, William. He studied law at thealma mater, Scotch College, where a boarding house now University of Melbourne and then completed his articles.bears his name. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1896 and started his own legal firm in 1907. Sir Arthur was known for his benevolence, but he didnt suffer fools. He believed people should stand up, speak Sir Arthur entered politics in 1900 at the age of twenty-up and shut up. According to his wife, Lady Robinson, his eight, when he was elected to represent the seat of Dundasgreatest passion was advancing opportunities for young in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He subsequentlypeople. Give to youth, he would say, to make your country served Victoria as an honorary minister (1915 to 1917),what it is meant to be. He gave generously of his time, skills solicitor-general (1918 to 1924), commissioner for publicand money. works (1918 to 1919) and attorney-general (1919 to 1924). While commissioner for public works, he was responsibleIn 1921 he was awarded the honour of Companionship for the creation of the State Electricity Commission andof the Order of St Michael and St George for his work in drafted the commissions charter.commercial and legal life and in the community. In 1923he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order ofSt Michael and St George.88'