John Richards (Attorney General)

John Richards (1790 – 1872) was an Irish judge.

Richards was born in Dublin, son of John Richards, solicitor, and his wife Elizabeth Fitzgerald. He graduated from the University of Dublin, was called to the Bar in 1811; King's Counsel in 1830. He was appointed a judge at Madras in 1835 but resigned to become Solicitor-General for Ireland the same year and became Attorney-General for Ireland the following year. He was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer in 1837 and held that office until 1859; he also served as a judge of the Encumbered Estates Court.

Richards married firstly Catherine Moloney and secondly Christiana O'Brien. Ball describes him as one of the finest Irish judges of his time.^[1]

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