Richard Peters (Continental Congress)

Richard Peters (June 22, 1744 – August 22, 1828) sometimes Richard Peters, Jr., to distinguish from his uncle, though this can also mean his son Richard), was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783. For many years he was a United States federal judge for Pennsylvania.

Richard was the son of William Peters (1702–1786), who came from Liverpool, England to Philadelphia in 1739. He was named for his uncle, Richard Peters (1704–1776), rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia. Richard was born on his father's newly acquired country estate, named Belmont, then just outside Philadelphia. William Peters was a large landowner with rental properties in both America and England; he had a successful law practice in Philadelphia, and was appointed as a judge in the court of common pleas.

Young Richard was educated in his early years at home and then attended the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania). After graduating in 1761, he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1763. He built a successful practice in Philadelphia. He also held a number of colonial government posts, including as Admiralty Register of Philadelphia, from 1771 to 1776.

Unlike many of Philadelphia's lawyers, who had business ties with England and tended to be Loyalists as the Revolution became imminent, Peters sided with the Whig or American cause. A week after the Continental Congress created the Continental Army, they appointed him as the Secretary to their Board of War. Later his position title was changed to Commissioner of the Board of War. He held this post with honor throughout the active phase of the Revolutionary War. When he resigned in 1781, Congress passed a declaration to thank him for "long and faithful service".

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