Robert Elliott Pannett was born in Whitby on the 7th February 1834, the younger child and only son of William Pannett, a manservant and hairdresser who had moved to the town from Littlehampton, Sussex. Robert Pannett lived in the town throughout his long life except for the ten or eleven years which he spent in London studying law. He was apprenticed to Thomas Broderick Simpson, solicitor of Baxtergate, at the age of twelve, later serving his articles with him. On Simpson’s retirement, Pannett was assigned to Bell, Broderick and Grey in Flowergate. Pannett studied law in London and on qualifying in 1858 he returned to Whitby and entered into partnership with Matthew Grey, later being in partnership with Matthew’s son William Seaton Grey. He retired from legal practice in 1896. Robert Pannett also spent his life in local government and held many positions of responsibility. After 22 years as Clerk to the District Local Board he became a County Councillor and later Alderman. He sat on several committees and would have spent many hours on the long train journeys to Northallerton. He was a J.P., a Director of Whitby and North Yorkshire Building Society, Chairman of Whitby Waterworks, a life Governor of the Cottage Hospital and a supporter of many charities. He joined the Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society in 1861 and served on its Committee from 1862 until 1920.
