Author: H. D. Richardson
Alternate names: Hugh D. Richardson
Died: 1847
Bio: This information in the bio is  incorrect.

H. D. Richardson, the author of the books on dogs and other animals,  is HENRY D. Richardson, not Hugh D. Richardson.

He was never in the military.

He never had a breeding program for Irish Wolfhounds or any other dogs, although he did write about Irish Wolfhounds and other breeds.

He died in 1851, not 1847; he could not have written the book listed as being written in 1975.

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Major Hugh D. Richardson was born and raised in Scotland. Of his childhood, he writes:

> When a youth I was ardently attached to athletic sports
> and at most of such exercises met with few rivals and
> fewer superiors. I was for three successive years victor
> at the Scottish games. I won, wore, and retained the
> champion medal of the Holyrood Gymnastic Club, of
> which Club I was also President or Captain—an office to
> which I was annually re-elected while I remained in
> Scotland. I have heard much of remarkable feats in high
> leaping; I can only say that I was never personally
> vanquished. My peculiar method will be unfolded when
> treating of that exercise. As a swimmer I was long
> known as the champion of Newhaven, whither it was my
> custom to resort every morning during a long and
> happy residence in Edinburgh. As a runner I had few
> superiors; and at gymnastic exercises generally was
> anything but a mean proficient.

Later in life, he was living in Dublin. He wrote several books on domesticated animals, including horses and bees. His book "The Dog: Its Origin, Natural History and Varieties" led to a resurgence of interest in the Irish Wolfhound breed, which he claimed is a heavier variety of the Scottish Deerhound breed. Richardson started a breeding program to save the Irish Hound by reportedly using the Glengarry type of Scottish Deerhounds, Spanish Hounds, Pyrenean Mountain Dogs and now-extinct Pyrenean sighthounds, Serbian Greyhounds and a number of other breeds.