Stephen Richards (politician)

Stephen Richards (c. 1820 – October 4, 1894) was a lawyer and political figure of Ontario, Canada. He represented Niagara in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1874.

Stephen Richards
Source: Library and Archives Canada

He was born in Brockville in about 1820 and educated in Toronto. He was called to the bar in 1844. In 1858, he was named Queen's Counsel. He was elected to the provincial legislature in an 1867 by-election after the sitting member resigned. He served as Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Executive Council of the province from 1867 to 1871 and provincial secretary in 1871. He died in Toronto in 1894.

One of his brothers, William Buell Richards, was the first Chief Justice of Canada. Another, Albert Norton Richards, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons and Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

Electoral history

1867 Ontario general election: Leeds South
PartyCandidateVotes%
ConservativeBenjamin Tett1,38050.13
LiberalStephen Richards1,37349.87
Total valid votes2,75383.96
Eligible voters3,279
Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
Ontario provincial by-election, December 1867: Niagara
Resignation of Donald Robertson
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeStephen Richards22999.13+44.82
IndependentMr. Geale20.87 
Total valid votes231100.0  −58.45
Conservative holdSwing+44.82
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[2]: 230 
1871 Ontario general election: Niagara
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeStephen Richards27762.25−36.88
LiberalMr. Ball16837.75 
Turnout44556.98+92.64
Eligible voters781
Conservative holdSwing−36.88
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References