James Prioleau Richards was born in Liberty Hill, Kershaw County, the son of Norman S. and Phoebe Gibbs Richards. He attended Clemson College and graduated from Law School at the University of South Carolina, where he played football and captained the baseball team.
He entered practice in Lancaster in 1921. He served as Probate Judge from 1923 until 1933 and was a member of Congress from 1933 until 1957. There he served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and between 1951 and 1957 was either Chairman or Acting Chairman. He was a member of the United States Delegation to the Japanese Peace Conference in 1951, the United States Delegate to the United Nations in 1953, and served on the Study Group to the Far East and the Middle East in 1954.
He was appointed Special Presidential Assistant by President Eisenhower and went on diplomatic missions to several Middle Eastern countries in 1954, with the rank of Ambassador. On leaving public service, he resumed the practice of law in Lancaster.
Dick Richards, as he was widely known in his native state, was admired and respected by all who knew him for his unquestioned honesty, integrity, and outstanding character.