Entering the office of the Natal Mercury, which his father started, he cherished leanings towards the life of a missionary, and then towards the law; but he finally accepted the career of journalism.

He contributed to the neighbouring press at Cape Town, and to home journals such as the Cornhill Magazine, where his first article, "A South African Watering Place", appeared in 1868.

[1] After some fifteen years' experience of administration by the crown, Robinson formed a strong opinion in favour of responsible government for Natal.

He had been impressed by the troubles of the Langalibalele affair in 1873; he was a delegate for Natal at the South African Conference in London in 1876, and then had to face the Zulu campaign in 1879.

Convinced that it was his mission to obtain self-government for the colony, he was opposed by his friend Sir Harry Escombe, and his policy was defeated in the elections of May 1882, when he lost his seat for Durban.

But he always kept before him the ideal of a self-governed colony, and his writings and speeches gradually convinced his opponents; in 1892 he had the satisfaction of finding Escombe fighting by his side.

[1] In March 1897 he resigned on account of failing health, hastening his retirement so that his successor might accept the invitation to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.