He entered the Colonial Office at age 18 as a clerk, and within several years served as private secretary to Herman Merivale, Frederic Rogers and Edward Cardwell.

[2] In 1891, Robinson was appointed Governor of Hong Kong, a position he served until 1898 and later became his last post in the Colonial Services.

Also, Robinson received the thanks of the Hong Kong government for the settlement of the Fanny Josephine affair (Venezuela).

She died in 1881 and Robinson married Felicia Ida Helen Rattray three years later, 21 July 1884 in Nassau.

Despite public perceptions to the contrary, there are no places in Hong Kong named after Sir William Robinson.