[3] He completed preparatory studies and engaged in mercantile pursuits before he moved to New York City in 1830 and became a wholesale dry-goods merchant.

[1] Schell was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of David B. Mellish and served from December 7, 1874, to March 3, 1875.

Schell died in New York City in 1879,[7] and was buried in the Old Dutch Cemetery in Rhinebeck.

[1] In the 2012 film Lincoln, the character of Richard Schell was portrayed by actor Tim Blake Nelson.

He was shown lobbying for votes from Democratic House members to obtain passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.