| Robert Francis Peel | |
| Honorific-Prefix: | Colonel |
| Office1: | Governor of Saint Helena |
| Term Start1: | August 1920 |
| Term End1: | August 1924 |
| Office2: | Member of Parliament for Woodbridge |
| Term Start2: | January 1910 |
| Term End2: | July 1920 |
| Birth Date: | 30 April 1874 |
| Death Date: | 10 August 1924 (aged 50) |
| Relations: | Great-nephew of Sir Robert Peel |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | British Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1898–1919 |
| Rank: | Colonel |
| Unit: | Coldstream Guards (1899-1909) East Surrey Regiment (1909-1919) |
| Battles: | Second Boer War First World War |
| Mawards: | Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Robert Francis Peel (30 April 1874 – 10 August 1924) was an English soldier, Conservative politician and Governor of Saint Helena from 1920 until his death in 1924.[1]
He was the grandson of William Yates Peel, great-grandson of Sir Robert Peel and a great-nephew of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. He attended Harrow School.[1]
Peel was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards on 2 February 1898, and promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1899.[2] He served with the 1st battalion of the regiment in South Africa during the Second Boer War, and returned with his regiment in July 1902, following the end of the war.[3] He was promoted captain in 1906.[1] After retiring from the regular army in 1909, he was commissioned Major in the part-time 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in March 1913. He continued to serve during the First World War, gaining the rank of brevet Colonel.[1]
In 1903, Peel married Alice Charlton-Meyrick, daughter of Sir Thomas Charlton-Meyrick.[1]
After failing to get elected for Mid Northamptonshire in the 1906 general election,[4] Peel served as Member of Parliament for Woodbridge, Suffolk from January 1910.[1] In July 1920, he resigned his seat to become Governor and Commander-in-Chief of St Helena.[5] In June 1922 he was appointed a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He continued to serve as governor until his death on 10 August 1924.[1]
There is a memorial plaque to Peel in the East Surrey Regimental Chapel in All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.