Robert Jones Atkinson (1820-1871) was a Democratic politician from the state of Ohio, United States. He was President of the Ohio Senate in 1854, and was an appointed official in the United States Department of the Treasury 1854 to 1864.

Atkinson was born in Carrollton, Ohio in 1820^[1] to Isaac and Hester (Jones) Atkinson.^[2]

He began as a clerk in Carrollton.^[2] He was elected to the Ohio State Senate to serve a term starting in 1852. The legislature met for a session in 1852 and another in 1853.^[3] He was re-elected, and served in the 1854 session. On January 2, 1854, the Senate elected Atkinson as President pro tem over Wiliam Lawrence by vote of 22 to 7.^[4] The Senate adjourned May 1, 1854.^[4]

In 1854, Atkinson was appointed Third Auditor of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He assumed office August 28, 1854 and was not replaced until July 18, 1864.^[1][5] In 1866, Atkinson was appointed attorney and counselor to the United States Supreme Court.^[1] He died in Washington in 1871.^[1][2]

Atkinson married Matilda Jackson of Carrollton, Ohio. They had three sons and three daughters. Two sons were bankers in Montana, and the other worked at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.^[2] Robert and Matilda Atkinson are buried at Grandview Cemetery in Carrollton, Ohio. He was a Democrat, a Freemason and a Presbyterian.^[2]