Robert Maskell Patterson (March 23, 1787 – September 5, 1854) 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.^[1][2]

Patterson was born on March 23, 1787, in Philadelphia,^[3] one of eight children of Robert Patterson and Amy Hunter Ewing.^[4] Patterson attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1804 with a B.A.. He studied medicine under Benjamin Smith Barton^[5] and graduated with a M.D. in 1808.^[6] He continued his education in Paris, France at the Jardins des plantes, and studied with René Just Haüy,^[7] Louis Nicolas Vauquelin, Adrien-Marie Legendre and Siméon Denis Poisson.^[8] In 1811, Patterson travelled to England and studied with Humphry Davy.^[7]

He returned to the United States in 1812 and was appointed professor of natural philosophy, chemistry and mathematics in the department of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He was appointed vice provost in 1814.^[7] Patterson remained at Penn until 1828 when he joined the faculty of the University of Virginia. He was elected an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1834.^[9] Patterson was nominated as director of the U.S. Mint by President Andrew Jackson^[10][11] and served from 1835 to 1851.^[12] In 807, Patterson and his father were consulted by Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler for guidance on the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. In 1826, Patterson was Consulted by the governor of Pennsylvania to determine the best source of water for a state canal.^[8]

He was active in the Franklin Institute, the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind.^[6]

Patterson died on September 5, 1854, in Philadelphia,^[13] and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.^[14] He was married to Helen Hamilton Leiper, daughter of Thomas Leiper, on April 20, 1814,^[15] and together they had six children.^[8]

Patterson was the youngest person elected to the American Philosophical Society at 22 in 1809. He served as secreatry in 1813, as vice-president in 1825, and as president in 1849.^[13]