Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples

Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, the 12th Baronet in his line, was born in 1853. He was the third son of Sir Nathaniel Staples and succeeded his elder brother to the family's baronetcy. Sir Robert was a gifted amateur painter, although his interest in art occupied only a small part of his time. His family's estates and business and political interests centred on Counties Tyrone, Londonderry and Antrim in Ireland, and Staples played an increasing part in the running of these estates from around 1905, although he did not actually succeed to the property and baronetcy until 1933, when he was 80 years of age. Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples died in 1943.