Born at Ystrad Meurig, Cardiganshire, he was son of Thomas Richard, a tailor and innkeeper.
[2] Richard was author of pastoral poetry in the Welsh language, poems are on the plan of those of Theocritus and Virgil.
The two pastorals, together with two other songs and some hymns, were published, with a biography, in 1811 under the title of Yr Eos: sef Gwaith Prydyddawl Mr. Edward Richard Ystrad Meurig, gyda hanes ei fywyd, London, and reprinted at Carmarthen in 1813, 1851, and 1856.
An englyn which does not appear in the collection is given in John Jones's History of Wales (p. 257), where it is said to have been addressed by Richard to his friend Evan Evans (Ieuan Brydydd Hir), who also wrote a short poem in eulogy of one of Richard's songs.
[2] Richard was also an antiquarian, and his correspondence with Lewis Morris and others was published in the Cambrian Register.