Robert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim was an Irish nobleman and politician.
Background
Son of Cavan Borough Member of Parliament Nathaniel Clements, Deputy Vice Treasurer and Teller of the Irish Exchequer, Clements served as High Sheriff of Leitrim in 1759, having been the previous year appointed as Controller of the Great and Small Customs for the Portuguese of Dublin.
Career
In 1765, he was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Donegal County, exchanging this seat for that of Carrick in 1768. He was subsequently Commissioner of the Revenue between 1772 and 1773, and three years later returned Member of Parliament for Donegal County again. Having been appointed governor of Counties Leitrim and Donegal in 1777 and 1781 respectively, Clements was ennobled as Baron Leitrim in 1783.
He was subsequently advanced to a viscountcy in 1794, and the following year was created Earl of Leitrim.
In 1801, he became one of the first Irish representative peers, and was admitted to the Irish Privy Council the following year. Lord Leitrim died aged 71 in London, and was buried in Dublin.