Everyone of us has at some point tried to figure out who is referred to when statements like "I will shutdown this blog faster than you can say 'Jack Robinson'" are made.
Who could he be? A medieval ghost? A member of the Council? Or an enigmatic Mr detective? Well let's see.
According to Grose's Classical Dictionary , published in 1785, the reference is to an individual whose social visits were so short that he would be departing almost before his arrival was announced. [2]
Several other explanations have been cited:
1
Supposedly, an English gentleman of the early 19th century named Jack Robinson was a person whochanged his mind. A person had to be quick to catch him in a decision.
2
Between 1660 and 1679 the officer commanding the Tower of London was one Sir John Robinson. It may be that the speed of beheading with an axe may be the basis, Jack being a diminutive form of John.
3
Another version is that Sir John (Jack) Robinson, the Constable of the Tower of London, held at the same time a judiciary appointment in the nearby City of London, and could and did condemn a felon in the City, then have him transported to the Tower where he commanded the
execution, the whole process being done 'faster than you can say Jack Robinson'.
4
John Robinson (1727–1802) was Joint Secretary to the Treasury from 1770 to 1782 and regularly acted as a Government Whip , responsible for organising elections and political patronage; of his reputation for political fixing, Nathaniel Wraxall wrote that "No man in the House
knew so much of its original composition, the means by which every individual attained his seat, and, in many instances, how far and through what channels he mightprove accessible." Therefore, fixing something "faster than you can say 'Jack Robinson'" was very fast indeed.
So who is your JR? Now you know you have a lot.
Several other explanations have been cited:
1
Supposedly, an English gentleman of the early 19th century named Jack Robinson was a person whochanged his mind. A person had to be quick to catch him in a decision.
2
Between 1660 and 1679 the officer commanding the Tower of London was one Sir John Robinson. It may be that the speed of beheading with an axe may be the basis, Jack being a diminutive form of John.
3
Another version is that Sir John (Jack) Robinson, the Constable of the Tower of London, held at the same time a judiciary appointment in the nearby City of London, and could and did condemn a felon in the City, then have him transported to the Tower where he commanded the
execution, the whole process being done 'faster than you can say Jack Robinson'.
4
John Robinson (1727–1802) was Joint Secretary to the Treasury from 1770 to 1782 and regularly acted as a Government Whip , responsible for organising elections and political patronage; of his reputation for political fixing, Nathaniel Wraxall wrote that "No man in the House
knew so much of its original composition, the means by which every individual attained his seat, and, in many instances, how far and through what channels he mightprove accessible." Therefore, fixing something "faster than you can say 'Jack Robinson'" was very fast indeed.
So who is your JR? Now you know you have a lot.
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