Haywood Yancey Riddle was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 4th congressional district of Tennessee. He was born on June 20, 1834 in Van Buren, Tennessee in Hardeman County. He completed preparatory studies and graduated from Union University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1854. He was an adjunct professor of mathematics and languages at that institution. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1857 and was admitted to the bar in Ripley, Mississippi the same year.
He moved to Smith County, Tennessee in 1858 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in 1861 and served throughout the war. In the last year, he was on the staffs of Brigadier Generals Wright and Mackall. He moved to Lebanon, Tennessee in Wilson County in 1865 to practice law, but he was employed as a deputy clerk in the chancery clerk's office for five years. He was appointed clerk for a term of six years in 1870 and served until December 20, 1875.
He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel M. Fite. He was re-elected to the Forty-fifth Congress and served from December 14, 1875 to March 3, 1879. He died in Lebanon, Tennessee on March 28, 1879. He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery.