Born around 1790, Gilchrist became the president of the Jersey Board of Selectmen from 1835 to 1836.

[1] He succeeded Henry C. Taylor as mayor.

He served two years from April 19, 1850 to May 2, 1852.

[2] Gilchrist's son Robert Jr. became the Attorney General of New Jersey and served from 1870 to 1875.

This article about a mayor in New Jersey is a stub.