Samuel Thurston Richardson was an American attorney and educator who made significant contributions to the establishment of formal legal education in the state of Oregon. Born in Oregon in 1857, Richardson pursued his higher education locally, graduating from the Willamette University College of Law. His deep ties to the institution eventually led to his appointment as its third dean, where he guided the academic and administrative development of his alma mater.
Beyond his work at Willamette, Richardson was an entrepreneurial educator. In 1902, he founded the Oregon Law School, a distinct institution not to be confused with the University of Oregon School of Law. He managed and led this school for two decades, offering legal instruction to aspiring lawyers in the region. The institution remained active until 1922, closing its doors the year following Richardson's death in 1921.
