Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, Baronet (B.A.) was born on 21st December 1784. Educated at Eton College and Christchurch College, Oxford. Member of Parliament for Newcastle (1818-1830) Under Secretary of State for Colonies (1821) in the Liberal Government of Lord Liverpool. Knighted on 22nd June 1831. Governor of Ceylon 1831 to October, 1837. Resigned as Governor an year before his term expired. He succeeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his father Sir Robert Wilmot. Governor Horton died on 31st May 1841 at Sudbury Park England.

Sir Wilmot's wife Anne Beatrix-according accounts was one of the most beautiful women of that time had a poem written about her by Lord Byron. The first few lines of "SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY"

She walks in beauty, like the Night,
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright,
Meets in her aspect, and her eyes.

Sir Robert Wilmot (Jr.) was the only son of Sir Robert Wilmot, Baronet of Asmaston in Derbyshire by his first wife Juliane Elizabeth, second daughter of Hon. James Byron. Sir Robert Wilmot (Jr.) married Anne Beatrix, eldest daughter of Eusebius Horton of Catton, Derbyshire. Anne Beatrix the beautiful heiress was a cousin of Lord Byron the famous Poet. Sir Robert Wilmot assumed the name Horton by Royal licence on 8th May 1807 in compliance with the Last Will of his farther-in-law. M.Wilmot, Horton's half-brother by his father's first wife was in the Ceylon Civil Service before Horton's arrival as Governor. He served as Government Agent Southern Province. Horton's cousin E.P.Wilmot was a District Judge.

Sir Robert Wilmot Horton was a great statesman, who made his mark in England particularly on the question of emigration of the poor of the British Isles to the England Colonies in the North Americans and Southern Hemisphere. In Ceylon, there was only the Government Gazette to read, so the Governor started the "Colombo Journal" which was printed at the Government Press. Letters in this paper singed "Timon", "Liber" and "pro Bono Publico" were from Sir Horton's pen. He also wrote Political letters in 1832/33 under the pen name "Philalethes".

The converting of Marsh's Private Hill Street Academy to a Government School was solely due to the efforts of Sir Wilmot Horton. He paid personal attention to the welfare of the school, promptly appointed a 2nd teacher from the Colonial Secretary's Office. He even attended the First Examination held at the Academy on 29th June 1837 some time before his premature retirement from Ceylon later that year

Secretary schools Commission July 1835 to 1836. Secretary friend in Need Society Colombo (Patron H.E. the Governor). Marsh arrived in Colombo in 1831 from Madras.

A Scotsman who set the seal for what we are today-the FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN SRI LANKA AMONGST EQUALS.

With his appointment as Acting Colonial Chaplain of St. Paul's Church Colombo, he started a Private Academy to educate the children of the Upper Classes in January 1835. When the residents of Colombo noticed the good work done at the Private School, they petitioned the Governor His Excellency Sir William Horton to establish a school to be operated by Government, and with a lower scale of fees, so as to allow the majority of young men in Colombo to gain the benefits of good education.

Governor Horton converted Marsh's Private Academy to the Colombo Academy to the Colombo Academy in January 1836 and made Rev. Marsh Headmaser on a salary of £ 200 per annum (£16-13s-Od approx) Rs. 168/- per month on condition that fees would not be raised. Marsh according to accounts was a mild mannered Padre, who did not believe in Corporal punishment. As Secretary Schools Commission he received a salary of £ 8-8s-4d per month and £ 8-6s-8d per month as Secretary, Friend in Need Society.