Robert Besley (1794–1876) was an English typographer, creator of the Clarendon typeface in 1845, and the Lord Mayor of London in 1869.
Besley was born in Exeter on 14 October 1794 and began his business life in his father’s shop where, as an apprentice, he learned the skills of printing.
[6] Besley was elected to the City of London's Court of Common Council in 1854 to represent the Ward of Aldersgate where his business was based.
He died at Victoria Road, Wimbledon Park on 18 December 1876, and was buried at Battersea cemetery.
Besley is also mentioned on the Foundation Stone of the Guildhall Library and Museum in Basinghall Street, London, EC2.