His father would soon become one of the two members of the House of Burgesses representing Middlesex County, serving alongside his uncle Christopher Robinson.

[7] Like his father, uncle and others of his class, Robinson was a planter who produced tobacco for export to Europe using enslaved labor.

He also continued the tradition of both sides of his family by serving part-time in the House of Burgesses, representing King and Queen County.

While John Robinson was speaker of the House, relations with England deteriorated after the French and Indian War, as British officials attempted to recoup costs.

"[2] Following Robinson's death at his main plantation on the night of May 10/11, possibly from an attack of kidney stones, his administrators found he had very large debts, as well as promissory notes from a number of fellow planters who were his allies in the House of Burgesses.

[3] Robert Carter Nicholas, his successor as treasurer, criticized him by name in the Virginia Gazetter, and as a result of the ensuing scandal, the two offices were not combined again.

Although three lawyers were appointed as the estate's administrators, Peter Randolph soon died, Peter Lyons chose to not participate actively, and Robinson's former ally Edmund Pendleton performed most of the work trying to both repay creditors and limit the scandal tarring Robinson's former beneficiaries.