Robert Goodloe Harper was born in 1765 in Virginia and later moved to North Carolina. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1785 and was admitted to the bar in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1786. Harper served in the American Revolutionary Army and later in the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina between 1795 and 1801, where he chaired the Committee on Ways and Means. He engaged in law practice in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812, achieving the rank of major general. Harper also served in the Maryland State Senate and the U.S. Senate from Maryland.

Robert Goodloe Harper's political identity is marked by a distinctive blend of nationalist fervor and fiscal conservatism. His famous line during the XYZ Affair underscores a commitment to national defense without yielding to foreign coercion. Harper's tenure as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means highlights his deep engagement with economic policy, suggesting a calculated approach to fiscal matters. His role as an impeachment manager against William Blount reveals a principled stance on governance and accountability, even when it aligns with opposing factions.