Sir Robert Palk, 1st Baronet (December 1717 – 29 April 1798) of Haldon House in the parish of Kenn, in Devon, England, was an officer of the British East India Company who served as Governor of the Madras Presidency.

[6] Walter Palk supplemented his income by acting as a carrier of serge from the cloth mills at Ashburton over Haldon Hill to market at Exeter.

He was educated at Ashburton Grammar School, and was subsequently sponsored by his maternal uncle and godfather Robert Abraham, to attend Wadham College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1739.

Palk was ordained as a deacon in 1739 at Exeter Cathedral by Bishop Weston and held two curacies in Cornwall at Egloskerry and Launcells, before going to London in 1741.

During his time in London he attracted the attention and favour of Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, under whose auspices he was sent to India.

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1773 which effectively took control of Indian interests away from the East India Company and its shareholders and placed it into the hands of The Crown.

Palk sailed to Bombay in October 1750 with the intention of resigning his post and seeking formal employment with the East India Company.

In January 1754 Palk and Henry Vansittart were appointed to discuss the terms of a peace settlement with the French who controlled a large part of India.

Palk eventually left India in January 1767 at the age of 50, and was well received by both King George III and the Court of Directors on his return.

Diamonds were a key method of sending large sums of money back to England and one letter concerning these is dated March 1770, as follows: Fort St. George.

Dear Sir, I must trouble you again to desire that you will not sell the diamonds by an advance on the invoice price, which I understand is the usual method, because they are, I am assured, of a superior quality to most sent to England by this ship.

I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, Warren Hastings.On 14 November 1760 "Robert Palk of Headborough" received a grant of arms as follows: Sable, an eagle displayed argent beaked and legged or a bordure engrailed of the second with crest: On a semi-terrestrial globe of the northern hemisphere proper an eagle rising as in the arms[11] with supporters: Two Asian Indians in loincloths and turbans.

On 7 February 1761 he married Anne Vansittart (died 1788),[16] daughter of Arthur van Sittart (1691–1760) by his wife Martha Stonhouse, daughter of Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet and sister of Henry Vansittart (1732–1770), of Shottesbrooke Park in Berkshire, Governor of Bengal from 1759 to 1764, his wealthy and well-respected colleague in India.