Constituency : Edinburgh East 1886-99
Robert removed the Liberal Unionist defector George Goschen at Edinburgh East with a large majority.
Robert was the son of a gardener from Fife. He was educated at the Geddes Institution and St Andrews University and became a Professor of Divinity at Glasgow University. He became a minister at Old Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh but his attempts at modernisation were resisted and he ended up quitting the Church of Scotland in 1876 . That year he became editor of The Scotsman. In 1883 he changed tack again and became a barrister.
Robert was a skilled orator but had a tendency to go on too long.
Robert made a noted speech in support of the Second Home Rule Bill.
Robert's last speech was an objection to a grant of money to Lord Kitchener for taking Omdurman in 1899. He suffered a stroke immediately afterwards and died at Westminster Hospital.
He died in 1899 aged 67.
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