Background
Richardson was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, son of John Watkins and Augusta M. Starnes Richardson.
Richardson was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, son of John Watkins and Augusta M. Starnes Richardson.
He attended the country schools and Franklin College, near Nashville.
Before graduating from college, Richardson enlisted in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, and served nearly four years. The first year he was a private and the remaining three years as adjutant of the Forty-fifth Regiment, Tennessee Infantry. studied law. Was admitted to the bar and commenced practice January 1, 1867, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, serving from 1871 to 1873, and then to the Tennessee Senate, serving from 1873 to 1875.
He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1876, 1896, and 1900, and presided as permanent chairman at the 1900 convention. Elected as a Democratic to the Forty-ninth and to the nine succeeding Congresses, Richardson served from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1905.
He was among the earliest United States. House Minority Leaders, holding that position from 1899 to 1903, during the 56th and 57th United States Congresses. Pursuant to an act of Congress on August 20, 1894, Richardson was charged with compiling the "Messages and Papers of the Presidents," a multi-volume work including every single important document from the federal Government, from the early days of President Washington through the second administration of Grover Cleveland, plus some papers from the administration of William McKinley.
Richardson died on July 24, 1914 (age 71 years, 136 days) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery.
