Richard Dewhurst (May 26, 1826 – October 13, 1895) was an English American immigrant, lawyer, judge, businessman, and politician.

He was admitted to the bar of Ohio, and in 1850 moved to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where for a while he worked in the lead mines.

For a year or two he taught school in Scales Mound, Illinois, then moved about 1852 to Potosi in Grant County, Wisconsin.

By 1854 he was teaching school in Platteville, and in 1856 was admitted to the bar of Wisconsin at White Oak Springs, before moving on to Weston in May of that year.

His profession is described as land agent in the Wisconsin Blue Book for that term[2] He was succeeded by yet another Union candidate, Leandor Merrill.

During this period he built a colonial home in Neillsville, and a block on the town's Main Street bearing his name.

In 1874 Dewhurst travelled to Oregon, Washington and California, and in the late 1870s toured Scotland, Ireland, his native England and the French Exposition.