Robert Vernon Atherton Gwillym
Robert Vernon Atherton Gwillym was a British country landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1780.
Gwillym was the second son of Robert Gwillym of Langstone, Herefordshire and his wife Elizabeth Atherton, daughter of Richard Vernon Atherton of Atherton Hall. He married Henrietta Maria Legh, daughter of Peter Legh of Lyme Hall in January 1763. He succeeded his brother in 1771 and inherited Atherton Hall, Leigh.
At the 1774 general election, Gwillym was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Newton on the interest of his father-in-law. His attendance in Parliament was very infrequent as he suffered from poor health. His only recorded vote was for Wilkes's Middlesex resolution, and he is not recorded as having spoken. He did not stand at the 1780 general election.
Gwillym took name of Atherton in 1779. He died in France on 9 July 1783. He and his wife Henrietta had two sons who died young and four daughters. His daughter Henrietta married Thomas Powys, 2nd Baron Lilford.
