Charles Gepp Robinson (3 December 1805 – 31 October 1875) was a Royal Navy Officer and hydrographic surveyor particularly noted for his survey work in the west of Scotland. Robinson was born at Appledore House in Devon. He joined the Navy on 13 May 1819 on board HMS ''Hasty'' in the North Sea. His first overseas posting was with

William Fitzwilliam Owen Vice Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen (17 September 1774 – 3 November 1857), was a British naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his exploration of the west and east African coasts, discovery of the Seaflower Channel off the co ...

in from 1821-1826, surveying the east coast of Africa. The survey cost the lives of more than half of the crew due to tropical diseases, and Robinson was one of the few officers to return alive to England. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1826, and returned to Africa with Owen in HMS ''Eden'' on a mission to establish a settlement at

Fernando Po Fernando Po may refer to: *Fernando Po (island) in Equatorial Guinea, now called ''Bioko'' *Fernão do Pó, Portuguese explorer *Fernando Pó, village in Palmela, Portugal * Fernando Pó halt, railway halt in Palmela, Portugal Portugal, offic ...

, which was believed to be healthier than other parts of West Africa. This turned out not to be true, and mortality due to fever was as high as on the previous trip, but again Robinson was one of the few to survive, as did Owen and his family who accompanied him. During his time in Africa, Robinson was active in pursuing slaving ships, capturing three of them. From March 1829 to April 1835 he served in various ships as assistant to

Henry Mangles Denham Vice Admiral Sir Henry Mangles Denham (28 August 1800 – 3 July 1887) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station. Early career Denham entered the navy in 1809. He served on from 1810 to 1814, initially u ...

surveying the coasts of Wales and western England. He then took command of the Welsh survey after which he moved to Scotland. He was promoted to Commander in 1838, was for a short while in command of HMS ''Gleaner'', then took command of the

paddle steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses wer ...

until she was transferred to famine relief work in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

in 1847. Robinson's surveys of Scotland covered a large part of the west coast from the

Solway Firth The Solway Firth ( gd, Tràchd Romhra) is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven ...

Oban Oban ( ; ' in Scottish Gaelic meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. During the tourist season, t ...

. While surveying in the Clyde in 1844, two of ''Shearwater's'' midshipmen on a pleasure sail were drowned when a squall capsized their boat. A memorial was raised to them by Robinson and the officers of ''Shearwater'' at the north end of

Great Cumbrae Island Great Cumbrae ( sco, Muckle Cumbrae; gd, Cumaradh Mòr; also known as Great Cumbrae Island, Cumbrae or the Isle of Cumbrae) is the larger of the two islands known as The Cumbraes in the lower Firth of Clyde in western Scotland. The island is s ...

. Robinson was promoted to post-captain in 1846, and continued in the surveying service until 1854. He was appointed to HMS ''Ceylon'' in the Mediterranean in 1854, and took part in cable-laying operations. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1864 and to vice-admiral in 1871. A memorial in St. Michael's churchyard of Dumfries recorded the deaths of two young sons of Charles Gepp Robinson, with the inscription: "Rest, my beloved boys. You were called away ere this world's sin could tarnish your bright hue". No date is given, nor are the boys' names. In 1860 Robinson was recorded as living in Oban. He had one surviving daughter, Julia Isabella. He died on 31 October 1875

References

External links

Coasts of Scotland on marine charts, 1580s-1900s
at the

National Library of Scotland The National Library of Scotland (NLS) ( gd, Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba, sco, Naitional Leebrar o Scotland) is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. As one of the largest libraries in th ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Charles Gepp Royal Navy vice admirals 1805 births 1875 deaths