When Robert French was born about 1790, in Pennsylvania, United States, his father, James French, was 39 and his mother, Sarah Ferguson, was 35. He married Margaret Glancy about 1819, in Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in South Shenango Township, Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States for about 30 years. He died on 28 February 1879, in Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States, at the age of 89, and was buried in Park Lawn Cemetery, Jamestown, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States.