Sir Robert Robinson OM FRS FRSE[4] (13 September 1886 – 8 February 1975) was a British organic chemist[1] and Nobel laureate recognised in 1947 for his research on plant dyestuffs (anthocyanins) and alkaloids.

He was born at Rufford House Farm, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire[5] the son of James Bradbury Robinson, a maker of surgical dressings, and his wife, Jane Davenport.

He represented Oxford University in a friendly match with a team from Bletchley Park in December 1944;[14] in which he lost his game to pioneering computer scientist I. J.

[18] [19] He invented the symbol for benzene having a circle in the middle whilst working at St Andrews University in 1923.

[20] He is known for inventing the use of the curly arrow to represent electron movement,[21] and he is also known for discovering the molecular structures of morphine and penicillin.