Thomas Ritchie (November 5, 1778 – July 3, 1854) of Virginia was a leading American newspaper journalist, editor and publisher.

On May 9, 1804, he bought the Republican newspaper the Richmond Enquirer from the Jones family with its current mechanical department head W. W. Worsley.

"[1][2][3] Ritchie wrote the stirring partisan editorials, clipped the news from Washington and New York papers, and did most of the local reporting himself.

Ritchie was elected as ensign with the Richmond Republican Blues, a military group led by Peyton Randolph and organized to defend Norfolk.

[citation needed] Controversial rival journalist and Jefferson opponent James T. Callender was found drowned in three feet of water in 1803.

John Daly Burk and Skelton Jones (Meriwether's brother) also both died in duels before completing a projected four volume history of Richmond.

A faction of the Democratic-Republican party, once nicknamed the quids and thought more radical than Jefferson, grew increasingly pro-slavery, anti-foreigner and anti-Catholic over time.

Committed to democratic reform in representation of the western counties and full manhood suffrage (for whites), Ritchie promoted the 1829 Virginia state constitutional convention.

They had four daughters and three sons, including William F. and Thomas Jr.[1][2][4] He died on July 3, 1854, in Washington, D.C.[1][6] His funeral was attended by President Franklin Pierce.