Biography

04/18/1753 - 11/13/1822

John Richards (Democratic Republican3) Montgomery County 1801-1805 (Constitutionalist (Quid) 4) Montgomery County 1805-1807

Early Life:

John Richards, born April 18, 1753, New Hanover, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of Mattheus and Margaret Hillegas Reichert; educated under private tutors; magistrate during the Revolutionary War; married, Sophia Huebener Richards, 1775 (d.1800), children, Marcus Richard, George Richards, Hannah Richard; married, Catharina Kuhns Richards; appointed, justice of the peace, Philadelphia County, 1777-1822; judge, Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, 1784; delegate, Federal Constitutional Convention, 1787; elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, 1795-1797, not a candidate for re-nomination, 1796; ironmaster; engaged, mercantile and agricultural pursuits; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1799; elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1801-1805; elected, Constitutionalist (Quid), Pennsylvania State Senate, 1805-1807, unsuccessful reelection campaign, 1807; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Montgomery County, 1810; unsuccessful campaign, Auditor, Montgomery County, 1812; died, November 13, 1822, New Hanover, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment New Hanover Lutheran Cemetery, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Magistrate during the Revolutionary War. 

Appointed, justice of the peace, Philadelphia County, 1777-1822.

Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, 1784. 

Delegate, Federal Constitutional Convention, 1787. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2nd district, 1799.

Elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 3rd district, Montgomery County, 1801-1805.

Elected, Constitutionalist (Quid), Pennsylvania State Senate, Montgomery County, 1805-1807, unsuccessful reelection campaign, 1807.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Montgomery County, 1810.

Unsuccessful campaign, Auditor, Montgomery County Pennsylvania, 1812.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Fourth Congress, District 4 Pennsylvania, 1795-1797, not a candidate for re-nomination, 1796. 

Legacy: 

Elected, 4th United States Congress, 1794, In December 1795 he presented a memorial, claiming election since the governor had declined to issue a certificate to either candidate. The committee of election reported that James Morris had been duly elected but died after the election so that the seat had become vacant. This report was recommitted and subsequently a resolution was reported that John Richards was entitled to the seat, which was adopted by the United States House of Representatives, January 18, 1796, and he took his seat the same day. In 1796 he was not a candidate for re-nomination and returned to his home after vacating his seat, where he engaged in mercantile and agricultural interests. 

Brother, United States House of Representatives Congressman, Matthias Richards, Jr.

Son, George Richards, Pennsylvania State Senate, Montgomery County, 1847-1849.

George Richards  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "R"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. 

House Document No. 108-222, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - 2005 

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

John Richards (1753-1822) - Find a Grave Memorial