RICHARDSON, John, Canadian author, born near Niagara Falls, Ont., in 1797; died in the United States about 1863. He served in the Canadian militia during the war of 1812, and was taken prisoner at the battle of the Thames. After his liberation he entered the British army, and served in Spain, attaining the rank of major. He subsequently resided for several years in Paris, and engaged in literary work. On his return to Canada, in 1840, he established at Brockville, Ont., " The New Era," which continued two years, and in 1843 he began to publish at Kingston, Ont., " The Na-tire Canadian." He afterward removed to the United States, continued his literary work, and wrote for the press till his death. Though he was a prolific writer, he does not rank high as an author. His novels are deficient in interest, and his histories are inaccurate. Among other works he published " Ecarte or the Saloons of Paris" (New York, 1832) ; "Wacousta, or the Prophecy" (1833) ; " War of 1812 " (1842); "Eight Years in Canada" (1847) ; " Matilda Montgomerie" (1.851) ; "Wau-man-gee, or the Massacre of Chicago" (1852) ; and " The Fall of Chicago " (1856).