Thomas Robinson ( c 1703 - 1777 )

Birth: c 1703 Death: His house at Chelsea, London (03 March 1777) Burial: South-east corner of the chancel of Merton church, Surrey Memorials: Monumental inscription in Westminster Abbey Profession: Architect Education: Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1721); Middle Temple (admitted 1722) Career: Travelled to Italy and Greece; Ensign, 1st Foot Guards (1727-1731); MP for Morpeth (1727-1734); Commissioner of Excise (1735-1742); he spent huge amounts of money on balls and entertainments; Governor of Barbados, where he was frequently in dispute with the Assembly over his grandiose building plans (1742-1747); Director of Entertainments at Ranelagh Gardens, which he brought to the height of its fame; his continued extravagance led him to dispose of Rokeby (1769); his buildings include the west court of Castle Howard, the rebuilding of Rokeby (1725-1730) and the church at Glynde, Sussex (1763-1765) Honours: Bt 1731 Membership: Fellow Election Date: 30/11/1726 Proposers: Martin Folkes.