Richards was whaleship owner from Norwich, Connecticut.

In 1855 Richards had a shipping business in Honolulu. According to his own testimony, he owned several small schooners engaged in the coastal trade among the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). He was also agent for a line of packets sailing between Honolulu and San Francisco, and owned or managed the whaling barks RICHMOND, ZOE (later named KAMEHAMEHA V), and PEARL. Richards left the Islands and returned to Norwich in the late 1860's.

The PERL was purchased by Richards (3/8ths) and Thomas Dougherty (5/8th) in October 1854 when her Captain, James M. Green brought her into Honolulu as a wreck, taking bill of sale from her original owners, Williams and Haven of New London. Captain Green and her new Master, Edwin P. Thompson refitted the bark, and she sailed uninsured, from Honolulu 28 December 1864 bound on a whaling voyage to the Okhotsk Sea. While provisioning at the much used whaling ship stop of Ascension (now Ponape in the Caroline Islands), she, the Ship HECTOR of New Bedford, the Ship EDWARD CAREY of San Francisco, and the bark HARVEST of Honolulu were surprised by the SHENANDOAH (SEA STAR, as she was known on the English Registry) on 1 April 1865. All four ships were burned and the crews stranded or taken prisoner.

Between 1874 and 1875 Richards filed claims which were handled by the law firm of William W. Crapo of New Bedford. These claims on the PEARL totaled $110,240.50 for the loss of the vessel, her provisions and outfit, and the prospective catch. The Captain, the First Mate, and the Cooper (Leander Getchell and Nathan Gardiner, both of New London) also filed claims for loss of gear, clothing and wages. Richards apparently did receive at least partial payment on these claims.

Richards filed another claim later on, during the 2nd convention of the court. Here he was seeking compensation for loss of income that resulted when his bark RICHMOND was compelled to return crews from vessels taken by the SHENANDOAH, to Honolulu in 1865. Unfortunately Richards did not live to see the settlement of his claim, and his wife, Ada Louise Richards continued with the case.