Robert Dixson


Robert Dixson was a tobacco merchant and politician in the colony of South Australia. He was a brother of Sir Hugh Dixson, father of Sir Hugh Robert Denison and uncle of Sir William Dixson.

History

Dixson was born in Sydney the younger son of Hugh Dixson, and was educated at Sydney Grammar School and Sydney University. Hugh, who had been a tobacconist in Hanover Street, Edinburgh, founded a tobacco manufacturing business in Sydney in 1839, which in 1864 became Dixson & Sons with the addition of his sons Hugh Dixson, jr. and Robert Dixson as partners.
In 1877 Robert was sent to South Australia to establish "The United States Tobacco Factory" in what was Clark's flour mill in Halifax Street.
He represented the electorate of Light in the South Australian House of Assembly from April 1881 to April 1884. His colleagues were Jenkin Coles and H. V. Moyle. He subsequently went on a trip to England and the United States, returning in 1885. In 1890 he undertook another trip to London, where he collapsed and died.

Family

Hugh Dixson married Helen Craig. Their family included: