Stephen Richards (politician)

For other people with the same name, see Stephen Richards (disambiguation).

Stephen Richards
Source: Library and Archives Canada

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.

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
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Benjamin Tett	1,380	50.13
	Liberal	Stephen Richards	1,373	49.87
Total valid votes			2,753	83.96
Eligible voters			3,279
	Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario

Ontario provincial by-election, December 1867: Niagara Resignation of Donald Robertson
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Stephen Richards	229	99.13	+44.82
	Independent	Mr. Geale	2	0.87
Total valid votes			231	100.0	−58.45
	Conservative hold		Swing		+44.82
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario

1871 Ontario general election: Niagara
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Stephen Richards	277	62.25	−36.88
	Liberal	Mr. Ball	168	37.75
Turnout			445	56.98	+92.64
Eligible voters			781
	Conservative hold		Swing		−36.88
Source: Elections Ontario

External links

• Member's parliamentary history for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• The Canadian parliamentary companion and annual register, 1874, HJ Morgan