He attended public schools in Denton, Maryland, and graduated from Dickinson College in 1847.

He went on to study law under the tutelage of William M. Meredith, Richard B. Carmichael, and Madison Brown, and was admitted to the bar in 1849.

[1] After admission to the bar, Robinson began to practice law in Centreville, Maryland.

[1] In 1867, Robinson was appointed to the newly reconfigured Maryland Court of Appeals as an associate judge.

He served in that position until 1884, when he resigned to bid for the Democratic nomination to the United States Senate.