Robert Maskell Patterson was an American professor of mathematics, chemistry and natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania from 1812 to 1828 and professor of natural philosophy at the University of Virginia from 1828 to 1835. He served as the 6th director of the United States Mint from 1835 to 1851 and as president of the American Philosophical Society from 1809 to 1854.

Robert Patterson was an Irish-American mathematician and director of the United States Mint from 1806 to 1824. He was a professor of mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1810, professor of natural history and mathematics and vice provost from 1810 to 1813. At the request of Thomas Jefferson, he advised Meriwether Lewis on the purchase and usage of navigational equipment for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.