Patron (Lat. patronus, from pater, 'father'), among the Romans originally signified a citizen who had dependents, who were called clients, attached to him. Before the time of the Laws of the Twelve Tables, the most frequent use of the term patronus was in opposition to libertus, these two words being used to signify persons who stood to one another in the relation of master and manumitted slave. The original idea of a patron apart from the manumitter of slaves continued to exist. A Roman citizen, desirous of a protector, might attach himself to a patron, whose client he thenceforward became; the patron was the guardian of his client's interest, public and private; as his legal adviser he vindicated his rights before the courts of law. The client was bound on various occasions to assist the patron with money, as by paying the costs of his suits, contributing to the marriage portions of his daughters, and defraying in part the expenses incurred in the discharge of public functions (see ROME). As the patron was in the habit of appearing in support of his clients in courts of justice, the word patronus acquired in course of time the signification of advocate or legal adviser and defender, the client being the party defended. Patron in after times became a common designation of every protector or powerful promoter of the interests of another; and the saints who were believed to watch over the interests of particular persons, places, trades, &c. acquired in the middle ages the designation of their patron saints.
The term Patron has also been applied to those who endowed or supported churches and convents. The question of ecclesiastical patronage, or the right of the patron to present to livings, is dealt with in ADVOWSON, FREE CHURCH, INVESTITURE, SCOTLAND (CHURCH OF), STATE CHURCH.