James Ernest Richey MC FRS FRSE FGS (24 April 1886 – 19 June 1968) was an Irish-born geologist.

[1] He was born on 24 April 1886 in Desertcreat in County Tyrone in Ireland, the son of Rev John Richey, rector of the local church.

Despite a clear push towards Geology he continued for a further year at Trinity College, this time studying engineering, gaining a BAI in 1909.

[citation needed] His first employment was at Oxford University working as a Demonstrator during the lectures of William Johnson Sollas for the academic year 1910/11.

He was commissioned in the Royal Engineers (Guards Division) serving in the 76th Field Company on the western front.