Gabriel Richard | |
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| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan Territory's at-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1823 – March 4, 1825 | |
| Preceded by | Solomon Sibley |
| Succeeded by | Austin Eli Wing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gabriel Jacques Richard October 15, 1767 La Ville de Saintes, Kingdom of France |
| Died | September 13, 1832 (aged 64) Detroit, Michigan |
| Occupation | Priest, missionary, educator, civic leader |
| Known for | Founding the Catholepistemiad (or the University of Michigania), Coined Detroit’s Motto |
Gabriel Richard P.S.S. (/rɪˈʃɑːrd/ rish-ARD; October 15, 1767 – September 13, 1832) was a French Roman Catholic priest who ministered to the French Catholics in the parish of Sainte Anne de Détroit, as well as Protestants and Native Americans living in Southeast Michigan.
Richard established schools, a library, and vocational training with weaving looms. After the Town of Detroit was nearly destroyed by a fire in 1805, he and others created a new layout for the town. His motto following the fire, Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus ("We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes") is inscribed on the Seal of the City of Detroit.
Richard helped negotiate the Treaty of Fort Meigs. He was co-founder of the Catholepistemiad (which would later be renamed the University of Michigan). He was the first Catholic priest elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as delegate of the Michigan Territory for the 18th Congress. The Fr. Gabriel Richard Guild was established in 2020 as one of the first steps towards canonization of Richard.