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Geffryes was born to poor parents at Landrake, near Saltash, Cornwall, and moved to London, where he became an eminent East India merchant. Later residing in a townhouse on Lime Street in the City of London, he twice served as Master Ironmonger, was knighted in 1673, became Sheriff of London in 1674 and was elected Lord Mayor of London for 1685/86.
Elected President of Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals in March 1692–3, Geffryes was a significant trader in tobacco, part of whose investment was in the Atlantic slave trade as well as partial ownership of a slave ship, the China Merchant.
Married in 1651 to Priscilla Cropley daughter of Luke Cropley, a city lawyer and brother of Sir John Cropley, Sir Robert and Lady Geffryes had no children.
On his death Geffryes left about £10,000 divided in legacies to friends, relatives, hospitals and clergymen's widows, and in establishing certain trusts under the charge of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. A service was to be provided twice daily in the church of St. Dionis Backchurch, a school to be maintained at Landrake, and the poor of St Erney and Landrake to be relieved. The remainder was dedicated to 14 almshouses, mainly for widows of ironmongers,
