Richard Barnes (March 15, 1805 – September 3, 1846) was a native born businessman from St. John’s, Newfoundland.
He represented Trinity Bay in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1842 to 1846.
The son of William Barnes and Hannah Butler, Barnes was largely self-educated and involved in the family business which was shipping and carpentry.
He entered politics during the time of the very dysfunctional Representative Government.
The founding of the Natives' Society can be considered one of the earliest manifestations of Newfoundland nationalism.