Richard Dickerson Gholson (January 31, 1804 – August 23, 1862) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 3rd Territorial Governor of Washington.

He was married in Hickman County, Kentucky, to Mary Jane Morrison Martin on April 15, 1826.

His experience during the war with Mexico led him to purchase a sizable ranch in Texas, in addition to his substantial land holdings in Kentucky.

Buchanan later appointed him governor of the Washington Territory, and he served from July 1859 until 1861 when he resigned and returned to Kentucky due to the unrest that led up to the Civil War.

At the onset of the Civil War, Gholson moved from Kentucky across the state line into Tennessee "for greater protection of his family and slaves."

His death resulted from injuries suffered from being thrown against a tree by a runaway team of horses pulling a wagon.

Black State Department Washington City D.C. Sir, Unwilling even for a day to hold office under a (so called) "Republican" president, with my cordial thanks to President Buchanan for the honor of his bestowal, I hereby tender my resignation of the office of Governor of Washington Territory, to take effect from and after the 4th day of March next.

Will you sir do me the kindness to extend it to the 4th proximo so that my term in office will be just two years, I having been appointed March 5, 1859.