Sir Robert Birley KCMG (14 July 1903 – 22 July 1982) was an English educationalist who was head master of Charterhouse School, then Eton College, and an anti-apartheid campaigner.
He acquired the nickname "Red Robert", as even his moderate liberal politics caused concern for the conservative members of the college's governing body, the Provost and Fellows.[1] His predecessor, Claude Aurelius Elliott was appointed provost and as chairman of the governing body, living next door to Birley, he could keep an eye on him.[1]