Patrick Michael Quinlan (died 8 November 2001) was an Irish academic and member of Seanad Éireann from 1957 to 1977. He was born near Kilmallock, County Limerick. He completed his PhD at California Institute of Technology in 1949. He was professor of mathematical physics at University College Cork (UCC). He was a member of the governing body of UCC, and a fellow of the Institute of Advanced Studies from 1971. In 1967, he was awarded a Higher Doctorate, the DSc from the National University of Ireland and in 1978, he was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy. He was a founder member of the National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 1983.