[1] His father was Paul Urban Ricard, a Caen hosiery manufacturer, and his mother was Marie-Caroline Rossignol.

His wife brought him a large dowry, and also introduced him to what were then advanced political and social views.

[2] On 13 November 1881, Ricard was elected to the municipal council on the Left list, and three days later was appointed mayor.

[5] Ricard did not run in the general election of 1889, but when the deputy for the first district of Rouen died he ran in the by-election of 1 December 1889 and won in the first round.

[6] Ricard became Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs when the cabinet of Émile Loubet was formed on 29 February 1892, and held office until 6 December 1892.

[7] In 1900 he became a member of the Higher Council on Labor, and chaired the committee on industrial employment of women and children.

[9] During World War I (1914–1918), in 1916 Ricard chaired the committee on regulating military construction companies.