John Richards (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
John Richards was a United States Representative from Pennsylvania
.
during the Revolutionary War
. He was appointed justice of the peace
for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
on June 6, 1777, a position he held until his death.
He also served as judge of the Montgomery County
Court of Common Pleas
in 1784, and was a delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Richards was elected as a Democratic-Republican Party to the Fourth
Congress, serving from March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1797. He presented a memorial on December 10, 1795, 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 subsequent to 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 House on January 18, 1796, and Mr. Richards took his seat the same day. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1796.
He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
(1801 to 1807).
An ironmaster
, Richards also engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. He died in New Hanover; interment was in Faulkner Swamp (Lutheran) Church Cemetery.
Matthias Richards
, John's younger brother, was also a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early life and education
Born in New Hanover, he was educated under private tutors.Career
Richards was appointed as a magistrateMagistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was appointed justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...
on June 6, 1777, a position he held until his death.
He also served as judge of the Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania .The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state....
in 1784, and was a delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Richards was elected as a Democratic-Republican Party to the Fourth
4th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President: John Adams * President pro tempore:** Henry Tazewell , first elected December 7, 1795** Samuel Livermore , first elected May 6, 1796** William Bingham , first elected February 16, 1797...
Congress, serving from March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1797. He presented a memorial on December 10, 1795, 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 subsequent to 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 House on January 18, 1796, and Mr. Richards took his seat the same day. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1796.
He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
(1801 to 1807).
An ironmaster
Ironmaster
An ironmaster is the manager – and usually owner – of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain....
, Richards also engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. He died in New Hanover; interment was in Faulkner Swamp (Lutheran) Church Cemetery.
Matthias Richards
Matthias Richards
Matthias Richards was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Early life and education:...
, John's younger brother, was also a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.