Joseph Philip Robson[1] was born 24 September 1808 in Bailiffgate, Newcastle upon Tyne.
His father was preparing for priesthood at Stonyhurst College when he suffered ill health, resulting in his inability to complete his training, and he became a Roman Catholic School teacher.
J P Robson himself was apprenticed as a plane maker, but severely injured himself while lifting a heavy log.
He was married on 21 September 1830 at St Andrew Church,[2] Newcastle upon Tyne to Isabella Stobbs.
He received a commission from Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte[3] (1813-1891), to create a version of the Song of Solomon in the Tyneside dialect.