Introduction

Biography

Robins was the son of min­is­ter Gurd­on Caul­kins Ro­bins, Sr., and Ju­lia Sav­age, and bro­ther of Hen­ry Eph­ra­im Ro­bins, pre­si­dent of Col­by Col­lege, Wa­ter­ville, Maine (1873–82). He mar­ried twice, to Ma­ry Jane Red­field (1849) and Har­ri­et Will­iams.

The great­er part of Ro­bins’ life was spent in the book trade.

During the Am­eri­can ci­vil war, he reached the rank of lieu­ten­ant and was a quar­ter­mas­ter in the 16th Con­nec­ti­cut Vol­un­teer In­fantry.

He was cap­tured dur­ing the war, and his im­pris­on­ment is said to have short­ened his life.

After the war, he served as ci­ty clerk in Hart­ford, Con­nec­ti­cut, for five years.