Robert Curtis Ogden (June 20, 1836 – August 6, 1913) was a businessman who promoted education in the Southern United States.

He began work in a dry-goods store at 14 years of age, and moved with his family to New York City in 1852.

By 1860, he had married Ellen Lewis, was living in Brooklyn, and was a partner in the clothing firm of Devlin and Company.

Once peace was established, he was much impressed by the work of his friend Samuel C. Armstrong, who founded and headed Hampton Institute in Virginia.

[2] He was a great financial supporter of Booker T. Washington, and took part publicly speaking on his behalf, including at the Tuskegee Institute Silver Anniversary Lecture at Carnegie Hall in 1906, where he introduced Washington after Mark Twain had spoken.