Richard Edwards (died 16 June 1773) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served for a brief time as Commodore Governor of Newfoundland.

He received a promotion to the rank of post captain on 4 November 1740 and given command of the 24-gun HMS Fox.

[1] He commanded her until 1742, during which time he captured a 10-gun Spanish privateer named Justa Resina.

[1] He was appointed governor of Newfoundland that year, but was ordered to go to North America and place himself under the command of Commodore Peter Warren at Louisbourg, where he was besieging the fort.

[1] Louisbourg surrendered four days later, and Edwards sailed to Newfoundland to take up his original post.