William Rose Robinson, formally known as Sir William Rose Robinson KCSI, served as the Acting Governor of Madras Presidency in the year 1875 under the administration of the British Empire in India. He was also a well known British politician and a well known colonial administrator. Robinson also served as one of the members of the British Indian Civil Service, which was the civil service of the Government of India during the era of the rule of British Empire in undivided India. The members of the civil service were appointed under Section XXXII of the Government of India Act, 1858 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. After the year 1886, the Indian Civil Service was officially known as Imperial Civil Service.

Early Life of William Rose Robinson
William Rose Robinson was born on 28 June 1822. He successfully completed his education from Bonn and Haileybury in 1841.

Career of William Rose Robinson
In the year 1842, William Rose Robinson joined the British Indian Civil Service and was positioned in British India. Later in 1865, he was appointed as the Inspector General of Police of Madras Presidency and held the position till 1870. He also acted as the revenue member of the Executive council of the Governor of Madras (now Chennai) from the year 1870 to 1873. Robinson also served as additional member in the executive council of the Viceroy of India from the year 1873 to 1878. Sir William Rose Robinson KCSI was appointed as the Governor of Madras Presidency on 28 April 1875. He was preceded by Vere Henry Hobart, Lord Hobart from 15 May 1872 to 27 April 1875.

The Madras Presidency, also known as the Presidency of Fort St. George and Madras Province, was an administrative sub division of British dominated India. The territory included most of southern India, such as the modern states of Tamil Nadu, the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep Islands, the Malabar region of North Kerala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur and Gajapati districts of southern Orissa and the Bellary, Ganjam, Dakshina Kannada, Rayagada and Udupi districts of Karnataka.

Robinson served in office till 23 November 1875 and was succeeded by Richard Plantagenet Campbell Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos GCSI, PC who served in the position from 23 November 1875 to 20 December 1880.

Personal Life of William Rose Robinson
William Rose Robinson was appointed as the Companion of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India in the year 1866. Later in 1876, he was promoted as a Knight Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. Robinson died on 27April 1886.