Patterson was the second son of
Robert Patterson F.R.S. In August 1902, he was awarded a
knighthood for services to the Belfast Chamber of Commerce. Robert Lloyd Patterson wrote several zoological papers in the
Irish Naturalist and the Report and Proceedings of the
Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society and a book titled
The Birds, Fishes and Cetacea of Belfast Lough (1880). On his death Robert Lloyd Patterson bequeathed his art collection to the Belfast Corporation. It is now in the
Ulster Museum. ==Arms==