Was appointed by President Lincoln to be Minister Resident (Ambassador) to Argentine Confederation.  He was appointed March 28, 1861, presented his credentials on October 5, 1861, and terminated his mission and left the post about April 12, 1862, due to illness.  While returning home to the USA and Pennsylvania, he died aboard ship near Brazil and his remains were committed to the sea.

First Settlers of Schuylkill County, Blue Book, Ella Zerbey Elliott...Pages 149 - 189
Page 175:
"N. Palmer, who came to Pottsville, 1829.  His son, Robert Palmer, State Senator, was appointed minister to the Argentine Republic, 1861.  His health failed and he died, 1862, on his return trip home and was buried at sea.  Of his children, Strange, Charles T. (A prominent physician), Robert, Laura, Bertha, wife of Harry Stinear, and Frank N., the latter alone survives.

He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania 1856, 1860 and was a member of the Pennsylvania state senate.

1860 Census , he was an attorney at law.  Real estate was valued at $25,000 and assets of $15,000.  He lived in the Pottsville North West Ward of Schuylkill Co.

Hon. ROBERT M. PALMER  is in this place in the original book. It is listed on PAGE 298 in the Table of Contents.  W. W. Munsell book of Schuylkill County History, 1881.  Page 298
___________
The following biographical sketch of the late Hon. Robert M. Palmer is, with a few necessary alterations, the same that appeared in the "Biographical Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania":

Robert M. Palmer was born in Mount Holly, N.J., in 1820. He was a son of the late Judge Strange N. Palmer, who, having settled in Pottsville, Pa., in 1829, was during thirty-six years a resident of that place; and a grandson of Hon. Nathan Palmer (a lineal descendant of Miles Standish), who, born in Plainfield, Conn., in early manhood removed to Pennsylvania and served in the Senate of his adopted
State three years, having been chosen thereto by his constituents of Luzerne and Northumberland counties, as holding the views and political faith of Thomas Jefferson. He also had been previously commissioned by Governor McKean, whose election he had warmly seconded, as prothonotary of Luzerne county. Robert was but nine years of age when his father removed to Pottsville, and inherited the same tastes as his parent and grandfather, both of whom had been connected with the typographical and editorial fraternity. He served successfully in various positions in the in the printing office and finally reached the editorial chair of the Emporium. While so occupied he studied law, and in 1845 was admitted to practice. In his political faith he was a firm supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and so continued until 1854. In 1850 he was elected district attorney of Schuylkill county, for the period of three years, and from that time took a high position as a lawyer, and stood, at a later date, in the front rank of his profession in the commonwealth. In 1854 he allied himself to the "People's Party," which occupied the pro-slavery dogma of the modern Democracy. In 1856 he was a member of the Union State Central Committee and chairman protem. of the committee to arrange the electoral ticket. In 1858 he was elected to the State Senate from Schuylkill county, and during his term, and mainly through his exertions, that county received more local legislation of a reformatory character than any other in the State outside of Philadelphia, amounting to an annual saving of $50,000 to the people in taxes. He was elected speaker of the Senate during his last year of service, and filled the chair with distinguished ability. A half century before, his grandfather had occupied the same position. In the spring of 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln minister to the Argentine Confederation, and sailed for that country in May of the same year. His health was not good during his residence there, and in less than a year he resolved to go home, his physicians trusting that the sea air might be of benefit to him. He died April 26th, 1862, on the thirteenth day out, and on the following day his remains were committed to the deep. He left a widow and six children, four of whom are living. His second son in the order of birth, but the eldest now living, Dr. Charles T. Palmer, a well-known oculist and aurist, after serving two years as resident physician of Mills Ophthalmic Hospital, Philadelphia, returned to Pottsville, and in 1871 was elected coroner of Schuylkill county, which position he filled with much credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the people at large.

**********************************************
Notes from Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin - September 2008

  Robert Moffat Palmer (d. 1861) was a lawyer, Speaker (the title then conferred) of the Pennsylvania Senate and Ambassador to the Argentine Confederation.  He was appointed ambassador by his personal friend and political ally President Lincoln, whose nomination at the Wigwam in Chicago in 1860 he helped to secure by moving the Pennsylvania delegation into the Lincoln camp.  He was accompanied on the journey to Argentina by his son, Strange Palmer, the older brother of Frank Cameron Palmer.  Robert wrote a beautiful letter, which I have, addressed to his infant son, Frank Cameron Palmer, whom he never saw.  Robert died on the return trip from Buenos Aires, and was buried at sea.  I have his original commission signed by the President in my living room.  Another son of the Ambassador was Dr. Charles Palmer, who is buried in Pottsville.

***********************************************
The Miner's Journal Newspaper, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA   June 21, 1862 -- Obituary Write Up

Death of Hon. Robert M. Palmer
The Hon. Robert M. Palmer, U. S. Minister to the Argentine Confederation, died at sea on the 26th of April and his body was buried in the ocean the next day.  He had been a long time in ill health, which had increased so seriously that he left Buenos Ayres to return to his home in Pottsville.  But his disease has  made such progress, that the sufferings of the sea voyage, brought on the final struggle.  He was appointed Minister by President Lincoln, and sailed from this country in May, 1861.  He leaves a wife and six children, the eldest of whom, Strange J., accompanied him to South America.  Strange writes under date of "Matanzas, June 5, 1862" as follows:

    "Dear Grandpa -- I arrived here, with Chesley (the servant) this afternoon, having had an exceedingly long passage of 52 days from Buenos Ayres.
    "Papa is no more!  He died on Saturday afternoon, the 26th of April, 13 days out, and on Sunday morning, the 27th, was consigned to a watery grave!  He died without a struggle.  He had been confined entirely to his bed, since December.
    "When we left Buenos Ayres, he was so low, that it was thought hardly possible for him to survive the voyage, but the doctors advised the sea air and he thought he would try to reach home; but alas! it was ordered otherwise."

We have information from Philadelphia, which leads us to hope that Strange and Chesley sailed from Mantanzas in a Philadelphia vessel on the 7th or 8th inst., and that they will reach the latter city very soon.

Mr. Palmer was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey in 1820.  When his father, who is still living here, Hon. Strange N. Palmer, settled in Pottsville, Robert became an apprentice to the "art preservative of all arts";  then a journ. compositor, and finally worked up to the editorial chair of the EMPORIUM.  While editing, he studied law and in 1845 was admitted to the bar, after passing an excellent examination.  Mr. Palmer acted with the Democratic party up to 1854.  In 1850 he was elected District Attorney of this County, for the term of three years.  From that period, he took high position as a criminal lawyer, and stood subsequently in the front rank of his profession in the Commonwealth.  In 1854 Mr. Palmer allied himself to the "Opposition," or People's Party, which opposed the Pro-slavery dogma of the modern Democracy, and their endorsement of the extension of slavery into the territories of the United States.  Mr. Palmer was a member of the Union State Central Committee, and Chairman pro tem. of that Committee that arranged the electoral ticket which received his vote and support in 1856.  In 1858 Mr. Palmer was elected to the State Senate from this County.  During the sessions of 1859 and 1860, Schuylkill County required and received more local legislation of a reformatory character (mainly through Mr. Palmer's efforts and influence,) than any other county outside of Philadelphia.  Upwards of forty important bills in 1859 and some thirty in 1860 were passed; a large majority of them very important in their provisions, as affecting the Treasure, the collection of taxes, the improvements of roads, etc., amounting to an annual saving of Fifty Thousand Dollars to the people in taxes, clearly evidencing that the Oppositon not only preached but practiced reforms of a salutary character.

Mr. Palmer by his tact, talent and energy, soon won for himself a leading position to the Senate Chamber, and at the close of the session in 1860, was elected Speaker, ad intermin during the recess.  He filled the chair with distinguished ability, during the sessions of 1861.  A half century before, his grandfather, Nathan Palmer, from old Luzerne and Northumberland counties, occupied the same position.

At the time Hon. Robert M. Palmer occupied his seat as a Senator, a correspondent of the Philadelphia "North American", writing under date of "Harrisburg, March 28?, 1860", thus sketched him:
   "On the outer row of benches sits Palmer, of Schuylkill: a slight, nervous, almost delicate form; the shape of the face is almost oval; the eyes large, full and gravish in color, with a decidedly dark expression when the face is ablaze with excitement; self-educated, a printer by trade, then an editor, subsequently a lawyer, now a Senator, and one of the leading minds of his region. -- He is a good debater, deliberate but cogent, with some mannerisms of pronunciation and elocution, which rather add to the pleasantness of his oratory.  Nervous physically almost to suffering, he is congenial and pleasant as spring sunshine.  Generous to a fault, he is yet a very ugly man in a running fight when he is aroused and resentful to the last degree against those who have betrayed his confidence, or interfered unjustifiably with any pet measure of his."

It is melancholy to think that one so gifted as Mr. Palmer, has passed away forever.  Had death spared him, his future would have been unquestionably, a series of continued brilliant successes in public life.

Since the above was written, a letter has been received from Strange J. Palmer, dated Mantanzas, Isle of Cuba, June 10, 1862, in which he writes:  "I have engaged passage to Philadelphia, in the Brig "Mary E. Thompson." and expect to leave here about the 14th last.  The passage will probably be from 12 - 16 days."