[5] Both of his parents' families were Colonialists; the Dormans were English army people and the Robinsons were Puritans.
[1] While in San Francisco, Robinson attended Union Grammar School (1854–61) and received his first art lessons from Charles Christian Nahl.
[6] After his father disappeared, Robinson moved to Vermont with his mother where he attended North Troy Higher Academy (1861–64).
Early in his career, Robinson established his reputation as a professional painter after exhibiting marine paintings of the San Francisco Bay.
[9] By 1876, he had regular painting exhibits, the works influenced by the styles of Hudson River School and En plein air.
He lost 30 years worth of his sketches and paintings in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
Robinson served as President of the Palette Club of San Francisco; and Dean of the Artists of California, since 1906.