Constituency : Cambridge 1868-74
Robert was one of two Liberal victors at Cambridge against sitting Tories.
Robert was born in Ireland. His father was a distinguished economist and one of the founders of South Australia. Robert was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and joined his father in Australia in 1839. He became involved in the government of the state from his arrival and rose to be premier in 1857 despite a knack for causing controversy. However his administration fell within a month. However he remained influential enough to get a bill through for registering transfer of property by title rather than deed and this was adopted internationally becoming known as the Torrens title although it was perhaps not his idea originally. In 1863 he emigrated to England and contested Cambridge unsuccessfully in 1865. He lectured energetically to promote his land reforms but the cause never took off in the UK.
Robert spoke in favour of the ballot as someone who had opposed it in Australia but converted when he observed the results.
He largely withdrew from public life after his defeat in 1874 and unsuccessfully pestered the government of South Australia for a pension.
He died of pneumonia in 1884 aged 70.
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