Robert Valentine Short (March 31, 1823 – September 7, 1908) was an American politician and land surveyor in Oregon.

[1][2] Settling in Oregon City, he opened a tailoring shop before heading south to the gold mines of California from 1849 to 1850.

[1] In 1850, Short returned to what had become the Oregon Territory where he helped complete the first survey of the Portland townsite, and purchased a lot on what is now southwest Third Street between Alder and Washington.

[1] Short also surveyed Oregon City for John McLoughlin that year, as well as becoming the first surveyor for Yamhill County (1855) where he set up a donation land claim.

[3] The next year the Oregon Legislature passed a bill naming him as a surveyor and commissioner to relocated a portion of the road between Corvallis and Portland.