Sir John Robinson: 125 years since he became the first Prime Minster of Natal

On 10 October 1893, Natal’s first ministry was formed, with Sir John Robinson as Prime Minister, Minister of Education, and Colonial Secretary.

Robinson, who is regarded as a loyal Natalian, first came to South Africa as a child in 1850. He later became a journalist and political leader, and was joint founder and the first editor of The Natal Mercury, together with his father, George Robinson. He became the owner of the publication in 1855.

After devoting his time to the newspaper, Robinson went on to play an important role in Natal politics for over three decades. He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1863, and attended the South African federation conference in 1876. He also attended the Colonial Conference of 1887 and the South Africans customs conference in 1888.

In 1889 he was knighted for his efforts.

Due to ill health he resigned from office in 1897, and wrote an autobiography called A life time in South Africa in 1900.

He died on 5 November 1903 in Durban, the capital city of present day KwaZulu-Natal. (sahistory.org.za)

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Image Number: APN298765
Path: Africa Media Online / The Media Bank / Reinhardt Hartzenberg
Description: The Sir John Robinson (1839 Ã¢â¬â 1903) statue at the Durban City Hall (Francis Farewell Square). He was the first Prime Minister of Natal.
Collections: Independent Contributors
Subcollections: Reinhardt Hartzenberg
Orientation: portrait
Pixel Size: 2832 x 4256
Media Id: 757_154
Credit: Reinhardt Hartzenberg / Independent Contributors / Africa Media Online
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Image Number: APN258768
Title: Group photograph of Conference on Customs Union and Railway Extension, January 1888
Path: Africa Media Online / Historic Africa / Rhodes University / Cory Library
Description: Back row: C.F. Blaine, J.G. Fraser, J.H. Hofmeyr, J. Robinson, A. Fisher, (Secretaries: J. Skirving, J. Noble, J. Watson) Front row: P.A.D.E. Meyburgh, F.S. Haden, Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, Sir John W. Akerman.
Collections: Rhodes University
Subcollections: Cory Library
Country: South Africa
Pixel Size: 5392 x 4494
Media Id: 224_16
Credit: Cory Library / Rhodes University / Africa Media Online
Keywords: conferences, railway, sepia, horizontal, full body photographs, group photograph, white men, gentlemen, 1800s, Victorian, well dressed, ,
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Image Number: APN298241
Path: Africa Media Online / The Media Bank / Reinhardt Hartzenberg
Description: The Durban City Hall and the Sir John Robinson statue. The first major renovation of the City Hall in Durban since its completion in 1910. The renovation project will cost an estimated R43 million. The Durban City Hall is an Edwardian-Imperial Baroque style civic building constructed between 1905 Ã¢â¬â 1910; a time of great interest in the English baroque architectural style.
Collections: Independent Contributors
Subcollections: Reinhardt Hartzenberg
Orientation: portrait
Pixel Size: 2832 x 4256
Media Id: 756_198
Credit: Reinhardt Hartzenberg / Independent Contributors / Africa Media Online
Model Release: No
Property Release: No