A. N. R. Robinson
A Caribbean statesman whose vision for global justice led to the creation of the International Criminal Court.
1926–2014 (age 88)·President of Trinidad and Tobago from 1997 to 2003·Birthday: December 16·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson emerged from the small island of Tobago to reshape both his nation's politics and international law. His career was defined by a profound moral compass and a willingness to stand apart, famously resigning from Eric Williams's government in 1970 over its handling of Black Power protests. As Prime Minister, his tenure was brutally interrupted when he was shot and held hostage during a 1990 coup attempt, famously ordering troops to "attack with full force" despite his captivity. His resilience carried him to the presidency, but his most enduring legacy is global: a 1989 speech to the UN calling for a permanent court to try crimes against humanity planted the seed that grew into the International Criminal Court. Robinson's life was a testament to the idea that principle, even in the face of violence and political turmoil, could have a world-altering impact.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
A. was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When A. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
A.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Died at 88
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Served as the third Prime Minister (1986-1991) and third President (1997-2003) of Trinidad and Tobago.
- His 1989 UN proposal directly initiated the process that established the International Criminal Court.
- Led the government that signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas, revising the CARICOM agreement.
- Authored the seminal "The Mechanics of Independence," a critical text on Caribbean governance.
Did You Know?
He was the first person to sign the Rome Statute, the treaty that founded the International Criminal Court, in 1998.
During the 1990 coup, he wrote a note on a cigarette packet to authorize the acting president.
He earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from St John's College, Oxford.
His middle name, Napoleon, was given by his father, who admired the French emperor.
“We must not allow the wanton destruction of human life and property to become the norm for settling political disputes.”
