He was the son of Matthew Ridley (1716–1778) (Governor of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Company of Merchant Adventurers, four times Mayor of and five times Member of Parliament for Newcastle) and Elizabeth White (1721–1764), daughter of Matthew White, a prominent Newcastle merchant of Blagdon Hall, Stannington, Northumberland, and sister of Sir Matthew White, 1st Baronet of Blagdon.
He followed his father as Governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers. He was appointed Chief Magistrate for Newcastle on three occasions and was elected Mayor of the city 3 times in 1774, 1782 and 1791. A monument to his memory stands in the nave of Street Nicholas" Cathedral, Newcastle.
Ridley is depicted in full length life size dressed in a Roman toga.
The inscription gives details of his service to the community.
1st United Kingdom Parliament. 2nd United Kingdom Parliament. 3rd United Kingdom Parliament.
4th United Kingdom Parliament.
13th Parliament of Great Britain. 14th Parliament of Great Britain.
15th Parliament of Great Britain. 16th Parliament of Great Britain.
17th Parliament of Great Britain.
18th Parliament of Great Britain]
He served as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Morpeth 1768-1774 and Newcastle 1774-1812.
