| Robert Abbott | |
| Birth Name: | Robert Palmer Abbott |
| Birth Place: | Broadford, County Clare, Ireland |
| Death Place: | Tempe |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Occupation: | politician |
Robert Palmer Abbott (1830 - 31 October 1901) was a politician and solicitor in colonial New South Wales, a member of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
Abbott was born in Broadford, County Clare in Ireland, and emigrated to Sydney as a boy with his parents, Eleanor, née Kingsmill and Thomas Abbott, policeman, arriving in the colony in 1838.
He was admitted a solicitor in 1854, subsequently specialising in litigation concerning the Robertson Land Acts, and had opened an office in Tamworth.
Abbott ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Legislative Assembly at the 1869 election for Tenterfield,[1] and the 1871 New England by-election,[2] before winning the 1872 election for Tenterfield, serving as the member for Tenterfield until his defeat at the 1877 election.[1] He was Secretary for Mines in the first ministry of Henry Parkes from 27 July 1874 until 8 February 1875, and was Mayor of East St Leonards from February 1878 until February 1879.[3]
He returned to the Assembly as the member for Hartley at the 1880 election.[4] He was nominated to the Legislative Council in 1885, and sat till 1 March 1888, when he resigned, owing to his objection to certain appointments. He was a member of the New South Wales Commission in London for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886.[5]
He assisted his cousin, Joseph Abbott, be elected at the 1888 Newtown by-election,[6] while his nephew, Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott, served in the Legislative Assembly for 21 years, including 10 years as Speaker.[7]
Abbott never married and died at Tempe on .