Robert Jones Burdette (July 30, 1844 - November 19, 1914) was an American humorist and journalist, renowned as the pioneer of the "paragraph" style of humor writing in the United States. Originally a Methodist minister, he transitioned into journalism and became famous for his short, witty newspaper paragraphs that satirized contemporary society with clever and concise language. His famous work "The Rise and Fall of the Mustache" became a classic of American humor literature, establishing him as one of the most influential humor writers of his era.