John Robbins was born in Bustleton, Pennsylvania, (now a part of Philadelphia), and raised on his father's farm.

[2] He served as a director of the Kensington National Bank[3] and as president from 1863 to 1864.

[2] He worked as an inspector of Moyamensing Prison, a Guardian of the Poor at Blockley Almshouse, a Director of Girard College, and a manager of the House of Correction and the House of Refuge.

[2] He died in Philadelphia, on April 27, 1880,[2] and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

This article about a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania is a stub.