Richard Beckford (died 12 August 1796) was an English Whig[1] politician.
[2] Beckford was one the first mixed-race Members of Parliament of the Parliament of Great Britain and served for the constituencies of Bridport, Arundel and Leominster from 1780 until his death in 1796.
[3] He previously, unsuccessfully, attempted to be elected to Hindon in both 1774, against Thomas Brand Hollis and Richard Smith, and the 1775 by-election when both Smith and Hollis were removed from office for bribery, but was unsuccessful.
[4] Beckford's father, William Beckford, was an MP and plantation owner, whilst his mother was a Jamaican slave.
[5]