Richard Chappel Parsons
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 20th district
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	John Hutchins
Succeeded by	Henry B. Payne
1st Marshal of the United States Supreme Court
In office 1867–1872
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	John G. Nicolay
47th Speaker of the Ohio House
In office January 2, 1860 – January 5, 1862
Preceded by	William Burnham Woods
Succeeded by	James Randolph Hubbell
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office 1858-1861
Personal details
Born	(1826-10-10)October 10, 1826 New London, Connecticut
Died	January 9, 1899(1899-01-09) (aged 72) Cleveland, Ohio
Resting place	Lake View Cemetery
Political party	Republican

Richard Chappel Parsons (October 10, 1826 – January 9, 1899) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio for one term from 1873 to 1875.

Born in New London, Connecticut, Parsons pursued classical studies, and moved to Norwalk, Ohio, in 1845. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice at Cleveland, Ohio. He was the law partner of Rufus P. Spalding, a prominent Ohio politician and jurist who would himself serve three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.^[1]

Parsons was the son-in-law of Samuel Starkweather, who served non-consecutive terms as mayor of Cleveland, Ohio in the mid-1800s.^[1]

He served as member of the city council in 1852 and 1853 and served as president in 1853. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1858-1861 and served one term as speaker. He was appointed consul to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 27, 1862, but resigned, effective October 1, 1862.

He served as collector of internal revenue at Cleveland 1862–1866. President Andrew Johnson offered Parsons the offices of Governor of Montana Territory and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. He declined both,^[1] instead serving as the first Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1867 to 1872.

Parsons was elected as a Republican to the Forty-third Congress (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875). He was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for reelection to the Forty-fourth Congress.

He resumed the practice of law in Cleveland, Ohio. He was editor and part owner with William Perry Fogg of the Cleveland Daily Herald in 1877.

He died in Cleveland, Ohio, January 9, 1899. He was interred in Lake View Cemetery.

• United States Congress. "Richard C. Parsons (id: P000089)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress