May Robson

May Robson
Robson in Broadway to Hollywood (1933)
Born	Mary Jeanette Robison (1858-04-19)April 19, 1858 Moama, New South Wales, Australia
Died	October 20, 1942(1942-10-20) (aged 84) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Flushing, New York
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1908-1942
Spouse(s)	Charles L. Gore (1875–c. 1883) Augustus H. Brown (1889–1920; his death)
Children	Edward Hyde Leveson Gore (1876–1954) 2 others who died during their childhood

Mary Jeanette Robison (19 April 1858 – 20 October 1942) known professionally as May Robson, was an Australian-born American-based actress, whose career spanned 58 years, starting in 1883 when she was 25 years of age. A major stage actress of the late 19th and early 20th century, Robson is best known today for the dozens of 1930s motion pictures she appeared in when she was well into her seventies, usually playing cross old ladies with hearts of gold.

Robson was the earliest-born person to enjoy a major Hollywood career and receive an Academy Award nomination, which she got for her leading role in Lady for a Day in 1933. She was also the first Australian to be nominated for an Oscar.

Mary Jeanette Robison was born on 19 April 1858 in Moama, New South Wales, Australia, in what Robson described as "the Australian bush". She was the fourth child of Henry and Julia Robison; her siblings were WIlliams, James, and Adelaide.

Henry Robison (1810-1860) was born in Penrith, Cumberland, England and lived in Liverpool. He served 24 years in the foreign trade of the British Merchant Navy as a mate and a sea captain. Robison retired at half-pay due to his poor health and traveled with Julia Robison to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1853 on the SS Great Britain. By April 1855, Henry was a watchmaker, jeweller, silversmith and ornamental hairworker in Melbourne. According to Robson, her parents both suffered from phthisis pulmonalis, and moved to "the bush" for their heath. Henry bought a large brick mansion in Moama, New South Wales in August 1857 and opened the Prince of Wales Hotel. From there, he co-operated Robison and Stivens, coach proprietors for the Bendigo - Moama - Deniliquin service. The hotel was Robson's first home. Henry Robison died in Moama Maiden's Punt on 27 January 1860.