Robert Stirling Hore Anderson, MLC was an Irish-born solicitor and Australian colonial parliamentarian. Anderson was born at Articlave near Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland, and was educated at the Belfast Academy and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A., 1845. After practising as a solicitor in Dublin for eight years he emigrated, and arrived in Victoria in June 1854. Whilst practising as a solicitor in Melbourne he resided in the suburb of Emerald Hill, and was Chairman of the Municipal Council. Anderson represented South Melbourne and Emerald Hill in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Anderson was Commissioner of Trade and Customs in the Heales Ministry from November 1860 to January 1861, when he resigned, owing to the policy of the Ministry being dictated by the opposition, Heales revising his budget in accordance with Sir John O'Shanassy's resolution that the public expenditure should be kept down to �3,000,000 per annum. Anderson, however, took office in the O'Shanassy Ministry which succeeded the Heales Government, being Commissioner of Trade and Customs from November 1861 to June 1863.