Sir Robert John Wilmot-Horton, 3rd Baronet GCH, PC, FRS (21 December 1784 – 31 May 1841) was a British politician, pamphleteer and colonial administrator during the first third of the 19th century. He was Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies between 1821 and 1828 and Governor of Ceylon between 1831 and 1837 but is best remembered for his writings on assisted emigration to the colonies.

 

Wilmot-Horton married Anne Beatrix Horton, daughter and co-heiress of Eusebius Horton, of the Catton Hall estate in Derbyshire, in 1806. They had four sons and three daughters. In 1823 he inherited the Catton Hall estate on the death of his father-in-law and pursuant to the latter's will added Horton as a second surname. He died at Sudbrooke Park, Petersham, in May 1841, aged 56, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Robert.

 

Horton Plains was named after Sir Robert in 1834 by Lt William Fisher of the 78th Regiment and Lt. Albert Watson of the 58th Regiment.

 

Horton Place in Colombo was named after the Governor.