Robert Holborn (1784-1863) was a spring knife maker.  His father, Robert Sen. (1753-1842) had been born at North Cave, near Hull, the son of Robert (a watchmaker) and Rachel.  The family members were Quakers.  In 1778, Robert Sen. married Sarah née Carbutt (the daughter of a stationer) at Tadcaster.  Robert Jun. was born and baptised at Tadcaster as a Quaker.  The family had moved to Sheffield by the 1790s, where Robert Sen. was a watchmaker at Church Lane.   His son was apprenticed to Jonathan Brown, knife maker, in 1798 and granted his Freedom in 1805.

In 1816, Robert Jun. was listed as a pen and pocket knife maker at Broad Lane Head.  By the 1820s, his father had apparently retired, and was living at Brook Hill.  Robert Jun. too, later resided and worked at Brook Hill (though on occasion his works address was Solly Street).   He was listed as a spring knife manufacturer at Solly Street in 1849, but by 1851 had retired.   He was a bachelor and lived at Brook Hill with his sister, Hannah.

Robert Holborn Sen. died on 15 July 1842, aged 87, from ‘natural decay’ (as the General Cemetery register termed it).  His wife, Sarah, had predeceased him on 10 July 1841, aged 86, after 64 years of marriage.  Robert Holborn Jun. died at his residence at Brook Hill on 14 November 1863, aged 80.  His burial in the family grave was unconsecrated: ‘No minister.  A Friend’, was the comment in the General Cemetery register.  His estate was valued at nearly £7,000.  He left bequests to Sheffield Infirmary (£50), Sheffield Dispensary (£50), the Aged Female Society (£50), Lancastererian Boys’ School (£10), and the British & Foreign Bible Society (£10).   His sister, Hannah, died in the following year, aged 74.