Hugh Richardson, (June 12, 1784 – August 2, 1870) was a Canadian shipowner, captain, and office-holder.
He was born in London, England and went to sea at in 1798, serving with distinction until he was taken captive by the French in 1810. Imprisoned at Verdun, Arras, and Paris, he was not released until eight years later. He married that year and in the spring of 1821 he and his wife Frances came to Canada.
In 1823, became a captain in the 2nd Regiment of militia at York (Toronto), under the command of John Beverley Robinson. He was promoted major in 1830, and transferred to the reserve in 1831. Richardson was appointed a district coroner for Niagara in 1824, Newcastle in 1828, and Home in 1830.
In 1825 he organized the construction of the steamer Canada, designed for the York–Hamilton–Niagara run. It began operation the next year. Richardson went to England in 1827 to raise money to make himself managing-owner, but the purchase put him in financial difficulties. Nevertheless, in 1835 he purchased the steamer Constitution, renamed Transit. The next year the Transit took over the Canada’s Toronto–Niagara–Lewiston itinerary and the latter ship was sold for £1,400.
Deeply interested in the improvement of Toronto harbour, Richardson in 1833 had published a pamphlet, York harbour, which advocated several improvements. At his own expense he had lighted the harbour entrance until 1833 and provided buoys and beacons until 1837. In 1833 Richardson, James Grant Chewett, and William Chisholm had been appointed commissioners to improve the harbour, and in 1837 he and George Gurnett sat on another commission which extended the government wharf and built a new lighthouse.
Richardson supported the Church of England and had his sons educated at Upper Canada College. He was appointed a magistrate of the Home District in 1837. When the rebellion broke out that December, Lady Head, the Robinson family, and the families of officials took refuge on Richardson’s Transit in Toronto harbour at Archdeacon John Strachan’s suggestion. On December 7 the Transit sailed to Niagara to warn that town of the rebellion, and in 1838 it was sometimes used to transport troops. Francis Bond Head appointed Richardson to a special magistracy in 1838.
Richardson purchased the Queen Victoria from James Lockhart in 1839. In 1842 he had the Chief Justice Robinson constructed. Both ships joined the Transit on the Toronto–Niagara route, but rival American lines pushed Richardson into a disastrous rate-cutting war with a Canadian competitor, Donald Bethune.
In 1846 Richardson declared bankruptcy, and in 1847 his fleet and other assets were sold at a poor price. Richardson moved to Montreal and captained the John Munn, plying between Montreal and Quebec. In 1849 he was captain of his former Transit, which was running as a ferry in the Montreal area.
Richardson was appointed first harbourmaster of Toronto in 1850. The post gave him an important social position in the city and a good salary. The first board of harbour commissioners included his old colleagues, Gurnett and Chewett, as well as Thomas Clarkson and Peter Patterson representing the Board of Trade. With their cooperation Richardson began work on the harbour, which he felt was in an advanced state of decay. The Queen’s Wharf was improved and extended, Kivas Tully superintending much of the work.
Though paralysed for about the last three years of his life, Richardson retained his office until his death on August 2, 1870.