William Robson, Baron Robson

Robson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the son of Robert Robson merchant of Newcastle-on-Tyne and his wife Emily Jane Snowden, daughter of William Snowden of Newcastle-on-Tyne. He was educated at Newcastle and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1880 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1892.

At the 1885 general election Robson was elected Member of Parliament for Bow and Bromley and held the seat until 1886. At the 1895 general election he was elected MP for South Shields and held the seat until 1910.

Government

He was the Solicitor General from 1905 to 1908. Upon his appointment, he was knighted the same year. In 1908, he was promoted to be the Attorney General from 1908 to 1910. On 19 July 1910, he was sworn of the Privy Council.

Peerage

On 12 October 1910, Robson was made a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and a life peer with the title Baron Robson, of Jesmond in the County of Northumberland. He was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George as a Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in the 1911 New Year Honours for "services in connection with the North Atlantic Coast Fisheries Arbitration". He resigned as Lord of Appeal two years later.

Robson married Catharine Burge, daughter of Charles Burge, of Portland Place, London on 26 May 1887. They had a family.

Robson died, aged 66, at Telham Court, Battle, Sussex.