Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson (1785 – July 8, 1838) was a Canadian politician who served as Commissioner of Crown Lands as well as on the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, and Executive Council of Upper Canada. He is known for his work in organizing the migration and settlement of what is now Peterborough, Ontario. Early life Robinson was born in (the parish of Queensbury) New Brunswick, the eldest son of Christopher Robinson (an officer of the Queen's Rangers) and Esther Sayre. He had two brothers, John Beverley and William Benjamin, and two sisters. The family settled first at Kingston, Ontario, in 1792 and then York, Upper Canada, (now Toronto) in 1798. Career Robinson fought during the War of 1812, where he commanded a rifle company at the capture of Detroit. In 1813, he distinguished himself in the defence of Fort Michilimackinac. After the war, he operated as a fur trader and established a number of businesses in the Lake Simcoe area.