Richard Cordley (September 6, 1829 – July 11, 1904) was an abolitionist (someone who wanted slavery to end) and a Protestant. Cordley was one of the first people to live in Lawrence, Kansas. He lived through the Lawrence Massacre and the Sack of Lawrence. He wrote about the history of Lawrence. He also wrote about the history of Kansas. He got the first degree from the University of Kansas in 1874.