Sir Richard Southey KCMG (25 April 1808 – 22 July 1901) was a British colonial administrator, cabinet minister and landowner in South Africa.

Hintsa had been taken captive by Governor Harry Smith, during peace talks, and was being guarded by Southey's Corps of Guides when he was killed while trying to escape.

As Colonial Secretary, he consistently and strongly opposed the growing movement for "Responsible Government" (local democracy) in the Cape, that was led by his fiercest political enemy, John Molteno.

This strategy, together with his "native policy" was heavily criticised by the local Cape Parliament of the time, which was dominated by liberal politicians such as Saul Solomon.

In a highly unexpected move, Molteno, his victorious enemy, approached him together with the Governor and offered him the post of Prime Minister for the new country.

In 1873, Southey moved there and was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Griqualand-West, where he had previously found one of the first diamonds in South Africa, on a witch doctor.

In 1871, soon after the diamond discovery, the land was being claimed by the local Griqua people (represented by their agent David Arnot), by the Orange Free State, by the British, and even by migrant diggers who had staged a revolt.