Background
Richmond was born in London, England, the son of Christopher Richmond, barrister and his wife, Maria Wilson.
Richmond was born in London, England, the son of Christopher Richmond, barrister and his wife, Maria Wilson.
He was educated at Hackney Grammar School, at Hove House, Brighton and at the school attached to University College London. He was apprenticed to the engineer Samuel Clegg and from 1845 served on the staff of Isambard Kingdom Brunel for three years working on the Great Western Railway in southern England.
He remained in Parliament until he resigned in 1865, as he was called to the Legislative Council, where he remained for only four months. He then represented Grey and Bell from 1866 to 1870, when he was defeated. Mary had left for Nelson with other Taranaki refugees from the New Zealand Wars in 1860.
In 1862 he joined her and became the editor of the Nelson Examiner while continuing his political career.
After the fall of the Fox Ministry, he also became the Commissioner of Crown Lands. He served on the Nelson Provincial Council and was also appointed provincial secretary from 1863-1865.
However, by 1866 he was back in politics and moved his family to Taranaki. By 1869 the family had moved back to Nelson.
Richmond travelled with his three eldest children to England and Europe in 1873 but returned to Nelson by January 1881.
He continued to travel frequently.
Eventually members of the Richmond, Hursthouse, Atkinson and Ronald families, who were related by marriage, all settled near one another in the area. Richmond was elected unopposed as member of parliament for Omata at a 16 April 1860 by-election.