Richard Monk was born in Lancashire, England, and relocated to Hokianga with his parents at a young age.

He was educated in California, US, and returned to New Zealand to work in the timber industry, setting up a joinery company named Messrs Monk and Morgan.

Some time later Monk organised the Union Sash and Door Company which he remained with unil entering into politics in 1881.

[1] He died at his home in Woodhill on 2 May 1912, aged 80, and was interred at Symonds Street Cemetery.

[1] He represented the Waitemata electorate from the 1886 by-election after the death of William John Hurst to 1890 when he was defeated by Jackson Palmer; then from 1893 to 9 February 1894 when his election was declared void.