Dr. John Robinson 1692–1709

Abstract

Duncombe while at Stockholm had the good fortune to be served as secretary by the Rev. John Robinson, chaplain to the embassy, who after the death in 1684 of Duncombe's predecessor, Philip Warwick, had been appointed “minister agens,” his commission then recording his long residence in Sweden and experience in affairs. On Duncombe's departure he was recommissioned in that quality and continued the envoy's work, for the same reasons, as set forth in the fragment of a report of his preserved, with as little fruit. After a visit to England in 1696, when he received the degree of doctor of divinity, he returned to Stockholm with the character of minister resident, both the war with France and the reign of Charles XI being then nearly at an end. His chief business in the next years was to bring Sweden into definite relations with the sea-powers. Success was attained when treaties of defensive alliance were concluded, the one with Great Britain under date 6/16 January 1699/1700, the other with Great Britain and Holland just a week later. During the remainder of the reign of William III his chief concern was with matters resulting from those treaties, as the repression of Denmark in 1700 and performance of the stipulations for mutual succour.