Jacob Richards

Jacob Richards (1773 – July 20, 1816) was an American politician and lawyer who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1803 to 1809, representing the 1st congressional district of Pennsylvania as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. He was active in national politics during the early years of the republic and participated in the legislative process over three consecutive terms in Congress.

Richards was born near Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1773, in what was then a developing region of the new United States. Little is recorded about his family background or early youth, but his subsequent education and professional career indicate that he received a solid preparatory education suitable for entry into one of the leading colleges of the time.

He attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, one of the nation’s earliest institutions of higher learning, and graduated in 1791. After completing his collegiate studies, Richards pursued legal training, studying law in preparation for admission to the bar. He was admitted to the bar in 1795 and commenced the practice of law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His legal practice in the state’s principal city placed him within the professional and political circles that shaped both Pennsylvania and national affairs in the early republic.

Richards entered national politics as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, often referred to at the time simply as the Republican Party. He was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives and served three consecutive terms. His service in Congress began on March 4, 1803, with the opening of the 8th United States Congress, and continued through the 9th and 10th United States Congresses, concluding on March 3, 1809. During these years he participated in the democratic process and contributed to the legislative work of the House at a significant period in American history, as the young nation navigated issues of expansion, commerce, and relations with European powers.

After leaving Congress in 1809, Richards returned to private life and resumed the practice of law. He continued his legal career in Pennsylvania, drawing on his experience as a legislator and attorney. In addition to his professional work at the bar, he was commissioned as a colonel of militia in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, reflecting his standing in the community and his involvement in local defense and civic affairs during a time when militia service remained an important component of public life.

Richards remained in Pennsylvania for the rest of his life. He died near Chester, Pennsylvania, on July 20, 1816. His career combined legal practice, military responsibility in the state militia, and three terms of service in the United States House of Representatives, during which he represented the interests of his constituents in Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district as a Democratic-Republican in the early decades of the United States.