The eldest son of Robert Patterson (1750–1831), owner of a mill-furnishing business in Belfast established in 1786, Robert Patterson was born into a wealthy family. He was educated first at the
Belfast Academy under the direction of a Dr. Bryce, and then at the
Belfast Academical Institution. Here he won a prize for an essay on the natural history of
Lough Neagh. When his father died in 1831, Patterson took over management of the family business, eventually marrying Mary Ferrar, one of whose ancestors had come to Ireland as a captain in
Schomburg's Horse regiment. The newly-weds settled at No. 3 College Square North, Belfast, where most of his 11 children were born. At 19 Robert Patterson was one of seven young men who, on 5 June 1821, gathered at the house of Dr.
James Lawson Drummond, at No. 5, Chichester Street to form the
Belfast Natural History Society, which established the first museum in
Ireland to be built by public subscription, at No. 7 College Square North. He served the society, later renamed, for more than fifty years, occupying every office. He was also a member of the
Belfast Literary Society and the
Royal Irish Academy. The
Royal Society elected him a Fellow in 1859, and he was an early member of the
British Association, serving as secretary to the Natural History section. Established as a significant naturalist in his thirties, Patterson had close links with
Charles Darwin,
Thomas Bell,
Edward Forbes,
William Yarrell and
Charles Lucien Bonaparte. Patterson, FRS, MRIA died at his house in College Square North, Belfast, in February, 1872, after a fall. His second son,
Robert Lloyd Patterson and grandson
Robert Patterson were also naturalists. ==Books==