Robert Vernon Atherton Gwillym

Robert Vernon Atherton Gwillym (c.1741–1783) was a British country landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1780.

In 1766 at the age of 25, both he and his family were painted by Joseph Wright of Derby[4] He succeeded his brother William in 1771, and inherited Atherton Hall, Leigh.

[5] That same year he is listed as a subscriber to a journal on travels to America and of agriculture and plantations.

[6] At the 1774 general election, Gwillym was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Newton on the interest of his father-in-law.

[5] His daughter Henrietta Maria Atherton married Thomas Powys, 2nd Baron Lilford[7] on 5 December 1797 at Penwortham, Lancashire and they had twelve children.