According to the ODNB, there are three Robert Beatsons, that are and were often confused:
- Beatson, Robert (1741–1818), writer and army officer, born at Vicarsgrange, Fife; married Helen Patton
- author of Political index to the histories of Great Britain and Ireland (1786), Naval and military memoirs of Great Britain (1790), A chronological register of both houses of the British parliament (1807)
- Robert Beatson (1732–1815) of Pitteadie, writer on the agriculture of Fife
- Robert Beatson (
1758–1805) of Kilrie, FRSE, writer on windmills; father of Helena Beatson (note -- ODNB had this dob wrong)
At present our article appears to be conflating the first and the third. Jheald (talk) 13:46, 3 August 2020 (UTC)
Y Article updated. I've left a couple of statements, with {{dubious}} tags, that I suspect more likely relate to his namesakes, but have not definitely confirmed one way or the other. Jheald (talk) 15:01, 3 August 2020 (UTC)