Robert Henry Mair was born in 1832, in Spalding, Lincolnshire, England.

He was a clerical, scholastic, and medical agent, editor, newspaper proprietor, and author. He owned the agency Mair & Co. He edited “Debrett's Peerage”, "Mairs School List" (1861), and compiled and edited "Debrett's Illustrated House of Commons and the Judicial Bench" (1867). He was the author of "The Educator's Guide; Or, Handy-Book for Principals of Schools, Parents, Guardians, Governesses and Tutors" (1866) and "Emy Guide to Geography" (1869). He was also regarded as an authority on cribbage and wrote: “Short Rules for Cribbage, With Hints for Playing the Game” (1878).

In 1852, he married Mary Anne Tully (1827–1870) and in 1872, he remarried Elizabeth “Gladys” Rowe (1848–). In 1880, he got a divorce and married Mary Hawkins Blasson (1836–1918) in 1881. He died on September 19, 1888, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England.