Robert S. Gawthrop III (December 2, 1942 – August 1, 1999) was a United States federal judge.
Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Gawthrop received a B.A. from Amherst College in 1964 and a J.D. from Dickinson School of Law in 1970. He was in the United States Army Lieutenant, Field Artillery from 1965 to 1967. He was a law clerk, Hon. Lee F. Swope, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1970. He was in private practice in West Chester, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 1978. He was an Assistant district attorney of West Chester, Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1978. He was an Assistant district attorney of Wayne County, Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1977. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Chester County, Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1988. He was an Adjunct professor, Dickinson School of Law from 1981 to 1982.
Gawthrop was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Gawthrop was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 30, 1987, to a seat vacated by J. William Ditter, Jr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 8, 1987, and received his commission on December 9, 1987. Gawthrop served in that capacity until August 1, 1999, due to his death.
He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.