Frank Robinson of Lawrence, Massachusetts was a well known wrestler of the 1870s and
'80s.  He was born around 1840 and was married to Mary.  Robinson was called the
American Lightweight wrestling champion of the Lancashire Style in 1877.  His son James
Robinson was also a wrestler fluent in the Lancashire style.

Robinson held a victory over W.J. Austin at Lawrence in the Spring of 1877.  Austin
continued to claim the lightweight championship, but refused to wrestle Robinson again.  
The Boston Globe (12/2/1877) stated that because of these facts, "Robinson must be the
champion." And this wasn't only of New England, but of America.

At Saunders Hall in Lawrence, Massachusetts on November 22, 1878, Frank Robinson
beat Lucien Marc Christol in two-straight falls.  The bout was for the lightweight title and a
$100 side bet, Graeco-Roman style.  The report stated that "about $3,000 changed
hands."

On April 24, 1880 in Philadelphia, he was defeated by Owen McCarthy in Philadelphia
and lost his lightweight championship.  McCarthy was from Manayunk.  Robinson weighed
130 pounds to McCarthy's 120.  There was a large crowd at the Industrial Art Building to
see the match.














Research by Tim Hornbaker
January 23, 2011
Frank Robinson Wrestling History