PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Richard Risdon was born at Ilsington, near Newton Abbott, Devon, in 1843, where his father was a small landowner and connected with the flour and corn trades. After being educated at Bovey Tracey Grammar School, he joined his father in business. In 1866 he succeeded to the confectionery business of Messrs Polkinghorne and Company, in George Street, Plymouth, and moved in to the Town. Shortly after arriving in Plymouth he purchased number 38 George Street and transferred the business to that address, where he subsequently joined into partnership with Mr Henry Matthews. He later started a branch at number 6 Treville Street but soon removed that to occupy more central premises at number 7 Bedford Street. Sometime around the late 1870s he and his brother, Mr John Risdon, purchased the milling business of Mr John Tregillus at West Hoe Road, Millbay, which was then operated as Messrs J & R Risdon. Mr Risdon became a member of the Devon and Cornwall Millers' Association and the National Association of British and Irish Millers. Messrs W H and J H Ball later became partners in the mill. At the time of the 1881 census, the Risdon family were living at 38 George Street. His wife, Lydia, and his three sons, Richard, then aged 20, John, 18, and William, 16, were all born at Ilsington. They had two domestic servants, Miss Louisa Horn and 15-years-old Miss Mary Saunders. He was a member of the Plymouth Court of Guardians and a Justice of the Peace for the County of Devon, sitting at the Roborough Petty Sessional Court. After serving as a Liberal councillor for the St Andrew's Ward and, later, the Hoe Ward, Richard Risdon was elected Mayor of Plymouth in November 1900. His term in office was noted for its many happy social events, which included garden parties held at his new country residence, Smallack, in the parish of Eggbuckland. He was a keen attendee of the George Street Baptist Chapel but when he became confined to his home at Eggbuckland he transferred to the parish church of St Edward's. He became rather infamous as the heaviest Mayor to have ever occupied the civic chair. Mr Richard Risdon, Mayor of Plymouth, died suddenly shortly after 10pm on the night of Tuesday July 16th 1901. The funeral took place at Eggbuckland Parish Church on the afternoon of Saturday July 20th 1901.
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