Francis Richardson (1815–1896) was a British merchant in firms trading in and with Far East.
He sailed from Glasgow in 1837 to join the firm of Paterson & Co. in Manila. This firm subsequently became McEwen & Co. and he moved to their bases in Singapore and Java in 1851 before returning to Britain in 1853. He became a director of the Borneo Company on its formation in 1856, progressing to Chairman from 1871 until his death.