His grandmother, Elizabeth McHutchison (1800–1892), also spelled McHutcheson, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, married Francis Sinclair in 1824 and moved to New Zealand in 1840 with their six children.

When they arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in September 1863, King Kamehameha IV suggested they stay and purchase some land.

[2] In 1865, Eliza Sinclair purchased the 21,844-acre (88.4 km2) ahupuaʻa of Makaweli, on Kauaʻi, from Victoria Kamāmalu Ka‘ahumanu for $15,000 ($299,000 today).

[3] Robinson was educated at home and attended the Boston University School of Law and was admitted to the bar in eastern courts.

[4] He spent a number of years traveling in Europe and Asia, and, on his return to Hawaii, managed the family estates after the death of his uncle Francis Sinclair with his cousin (also brother-in-law), Francis Gay, under the firm name of Gay & Robinson.