Richard Parker (congressman)

Richard Parker (December 22, 1810 – November 10, 1893) was a nineteenth-century politician, lawyer and judge from Virginia.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Parker completed preparatory studies, studied law and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in Berryville, Virginia. He held several local offices before being elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1848, serving from 1849 to 1851. He was elected judge of the thirteenth judicial circuit of Virginia on January 15, 1851, serving until 1869. During his capacity of this seat, Parker pronounced the death sentence for abolitionist John Brown who was captured at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) after his unsuccessful attempt to raise an insurrection in 1859. After retiring from the court, Parker resumed practicing law in Winchester, Virginia until his death there on November 10, 1893. He was interred in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester.