Robert Phayre (c.1619-1682) was a soldier and one of the Regicides of King Charles I of England.
Son of a Devonshire clergyman who emigrated to Ireland, Phayre was driven from his farm during the Irish Uprising (1641). He joined the army of the Earl of Inchiquin to fight the Confederates and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, but did not follow Inchiquin when he declared for the King in 1648. Phayre went to England and joined the New Model Army. He was one of the officers delegated to supervise and carry out the King's execution in January 1649. Like Colonel Hercules Huncks, Phayre refused to sign the order to the executioner.
After the King's execution, Phayre returned to service in Ireland under Lord Broghill. He served as governor of Cork and acquired Irish lands after the defeat of the Confederates. He was associated with Quakers and other religious radicals. At the Restoration, Phayre was arrested and transported to England. Although imprisoned in the Tower of London he was not brought to trial and was released in 1662.
Robert Phayre was allegedly released from the tower of London on the first occasion for a one-year 'holiday' after ceding 50% of his assets in Ireland back to the crown. He duly arrived back at the tower one year after he was released and stayed there for a further few months. He negotiated his final release after forfeiting the majority of the rest of his assets. He was never tried for regicide, primarily as a result of his never signing the death warrant of Charles the 1st. However, he did draw up the article, as can be seen on the original document. Robert had a large family and has numerous direct descendants who are still living in Ireland, the USA, Australia and Middle East. The family name is often spelled in different ways which include Phayer, Phair, or Phayre and different branches of his descendants use one of these forms.
In Ireland his direct descendents are to be found in a number of locations, but chiefly in Limerick and Cork. The modern spelling of the surname is normally Phayer or Phair. The Limerick branch of the family have given their name to Phayer's Road in Meelick in East Clear and to Phayer's lane off Upper Catherine Street in Limerick City. The family also have a tomb in St Munchin's Church of Ireland graveyard King's Island Limerick. The Cork branch of the family have a strong association with the Watergrass hill area.
In England, modern Phayres include: Colonel Robert Phayre MC (late Queens Own Ghurkas) deceased, son Lt Colonel Desmond Phayre RA (deceased), his son Lt Col Robin Phayre Lt Inf, and eldest grandson of Col Robert Phayre - Colonel Terence Phayre Knott MC RM and his son Robert Phayre (late AAC) served in Iraq, now Kenya, who changed his name by deed poll, to prevent name dying out.