Édouard Richard

Édouard-Émery Richard (March 14, 1844 – March 27, 1904) was a Canadian historian and politician.

Richard was born in Princeville, Quebec to Louis-Eusèbe Richard and Hermine Prince. After receiving his law degree in 1867, taking courses at both Université Laval and McGill College, Richard began to practice in Arthabaskaville with Wilfrid Laurier. He practiced for several years before being elected to the House of Commons from Mégantic in 1872 and was re-elected in 1874. His health forced him to not seek reelection in the 1878 Canadian Parliamentary elections. Politically, Richard was a liberal protectionist.

Richard became the sheriff of the North-West Territories soon after leaving the House of Commons, and remained in that position until January 1883. His work, Acadia, Missing Links of a Lost Chapter in American History, was published in two volumes in 1895. His work was controversial, both for mixing English and French in text and, more significantly, lacking annotations and citations. His book was republished with annotations added by his cousin, Henri d'Arles, from 1916 to 1921. Despite this controversy, his work brought him accolades, including an election to the Royal Society of Canada and an honorary doctorate from Université Laval. In 1897, Richard, who never married, was named the successor to Joseph Marmette as the official Canadian archivist in France. This was his last main work before his death in Green Bluff NWT (Richard, Saskatchewan), in 1904.