Douglas Robinson

The son of Irish-born parents, Douglas Robinson’s father was Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson, and his grandfather was Admiral Hercules Robinson. Douglas’ father was the governor of Montserrat from 1862, and Robinson was born there. He later lived in the Dominica, the Falkland Islands, Leeward Islands and Western Australia, after his father accepted other postings. Douglas went on to become a notable painter, sportsman and soldier.

He joined the Navy as a midshipman at the age of 13 and rose to the rank of lieutenant-commander, but left to study painting in Paris, where he became an expert water colour artist, specializing in landscapes. When the Boer War broke out Robinson joined the Army and went on to become a Major. During World War I he was captured and, during his time as a prisoner-of-war at Loos, he painted many landscapes from his cell window.

A keen sportsman, Robinson was at home on a horse as he was with a cricket bat in hand. Sadly, his cricket record, playing for France at the 1900 Olympics, saw him dismissed for a “pair” – two ducks. As a bowler, however, he succeeded in claiming the wickets of John Symes and Alfred Powlesland in Great Britain’s first innings. Robinson died at the German Hospital at Dalston in East London.

Robinson was definitely a British national in 1900, but he entered the Olympic cricket match while playing for the French side, Union des Sociétés Français de Sports Athletiques, although in Britain he was a member of the combined team made up of players from the Union Club and the Standard Athletic Club that joined with the French side for the Olympic match.