Samuel Ernest Palmer, 1st Baron Palmer (28 March 1858 – 8 December 1948), known as Sir Ernest Palmer, 1st Baronet, from 1916, was a British business man and patron of music.

Palmer was the eldest son of Samuel Palmer, of Hampstead. He was educated at Malvern College.^[1] He was a Director of the family firm of Huntley & Palmers Ltd of Reading, Berkshire, the largest biscuit manufacturer in the world. However, Palmer is mostly known for his services to music. He was vice-president and a Member of the Council of the Royal College of Music and was elected its first Fellow in 1921^[2] He was the founder of the Royal College of Music Patron's Fund, the Berkshire Scholarship and the Ernest Palmer Fund for Opera Study.^[2] He was created a Baronet, of Grosvenor Crescent in the City of Westminster in 1916,^[3] and on 24 June 1933 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Palmer, of Reading in the County of Berkshire.^[4]

Lord Palmer married Amy Christiana, daughter of George Swan Nottage, Lord Mayor of London, in 1881. She died in 1947. Lord Palmer survived her by a year and died in December 1948, aged 90. He was succeeded in his titles by his son Cecil.

Coat of arms of Ernest Palmer, 1st Baron Palmer

Crest Upon a mount Vert in front of a palm tree Proper three escallops fessways Or. Escutcheon Per saltire Azure and Gules two palmers'staves in saltire between four escallops Or. Supporters On either side a palmer supporting with the exterior hand a palmer's staff Proper.[5] Motto Per Crucem Ad Palmam (Through The Cross To The Palm)

• Samuel Palmer, 1st Baron Palmer . The Malvern Register 1865–1905, p. 41.
• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source] [better source needed]}
• Short biography