E.A. "Peter" Robinson

Edward Arthur "Peter" Robinson (born 1933) is a British-Canadian chemist, researcher and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. He played a significant role in the establishment the university's Mississauga campus (formerly known as Erindale College), acting as its first associate dean, and later as dean and principal.

E.A. "Peter" Robinson
3rd Principal of Erindale College, Toronto
In office 1974–1976
Preceded by	John Tuzo Wilson
Succeeded by	Paul W. Fox
2nd Dean of Erindale College, Toronto
In office 1969–1976
Preceded by	John S. Colman
Succeeded by	Cheryl Misak
1st Associate Dean of Erindale College, Toronto
In office 1966–1969
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	William J. Huggett
Personal details
Born	1933 (age 91–92) England
Alma mater	University College London (BSc, PhD) University of London (DSc)
Known for	Role in the establishment of the University of Toronto Mississauga
Scientific career
Fields	Organic chemistry
Institutions	University of Toronto
[1][2]

Early life and education

Robinson was born in 1933 in England and attended Alleyn's School, a grammar school in Dulwich, London.^[3] He went on to attend University College London and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1955 and a doctor of philosophy in 1958. He graduated with a doctor of science from the University of London in 1959.^[1]

Career

Robinson moved to Canada in 1958 as a post-doctoral fellow at McMaster University where he taught chemistry. He joined the University of Toronto in 1961 as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry.^[4][1]

In 1966, he was asked by D. Carlton Williams, the vice-president for Erindale College and Scarborough College and principal of Erindale, to help organize the campus. During this time, Erindale had only 12 faculty and 150 students. Robinson began as associate dean in 1966 and saw the campus's establishment in 1967, remaining in the role until 1969.^[5] Robinson became its second dean that same year, following John S. Colman.^[2]

In 1974, Robinson became Erindale's third principal after his close friend and predecessor John Tuzo Wilson left to become director general of the Ontario Science Centre.^[6]

He retired from his role as both dean and principal of Erindale College in 1976 to return to lecturing full-time.^[7]

Research

E.A. Robinson's research was primarily focused on the chemistry of sulphuric acid. His work contributed to the invention of superacids, pioneered the use of the Toronto Mercury Arc-Lamp, and discovered the proof of C–H···O hydrogen bonding in methanesulfonyl fluoride.^[4][3]

Honours

The Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga hosts a lecture series named in honour of Robinson called the E.A. Robinson Science Education Lectureship.^[8]

The University of Toronto also gives out two awards at the Mississauga campus in his honour: the E.A. Robinson Teaching Excellence Award for Senior Faculty, for distinguished undergraduate instructors,^[9] and the E.A. Robinson Medal, for the top graduating student in each of the four major disciplines at the campus.^[10]