Appointed clerk of the council of Munster by Elizabeth I in 1600, he bought Sir Walter Raleigh's estates in the counties of Cork, Waterford, and Tipperary two years later. Robert's mother, Catherine Fenton, was Richard Boyle's second wife, his first having died within a year of the birth of their first child. Robert was the seventh son (and fourteenth child) of his parents fifteen children (twelve of the fifteen survived childhood).
Hihirangin clerk ng konseho ng Munster sa pamamagitan ng Elizabeth I sa 1600, siya bumili Sir Walter Raleigh's pilates sa mga county ng Cork, Waterford, at Tipperary dalawang taon mamaya. Robert's mother, Catherine Fenton, ay Richard boyle's pangalawang asawa, ang kanyang unang pagkakaroon ng namatay sa loob ng isang taon ng kapanganakan ng kanilang unang anak. Robert ay ang ikapito anak (at labing-apat anak) ng kanyang mga magulang labinlimang anak (alas-dose ng labinlimang survived pagkabata).