Richard Pepper Arden, 1st Baron Alvanley PC KC (20 May 1744 – 19 March 1804) was a British barrister and Whig politician, who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

Educated at The Manchester Grammar School, he matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in November 1761[2] and received his BA in 1766.

[3] Arden was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1769, and received his MA from Trinity the same year, being made a Fellow of the college shortly after.

Quoting from Cokayne, The Complete Peerage: "He was not a man of great oratorical powers, but possessed the qualities of intelligence, readiness and wit...

He was a learned lawyer and a successful politician... the few productions that remain from his pen evince refinement, taste and facility of expression."