Keith Carlton Robertson was born in Dows, Iowa, in 1914. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1937 and served in World War II in both Atlantic and Pacific theatres as the captain of a destroyer. He stayed in the Naval Reserve until his retirement at age 62.

He married Elizabeth Woodburn, a rare books dealer, and they had one son and three daughters. His first published book Ticktock and Jim appeared in 1948 but his most recognized book, Henry Reed Inc., was published in 1958. Keith Robertson was primarily a children's book author but he also wrote a number of adult mystery novels under the name Carlton Keith. In 1961 Keith Robertson won the William Allen White Award for Henry Reed Inc. and again in 1969 for Henry Reed's Babysitting Service. His literary agent was Curtis Brown, Ltd. He died in 1991.