Louis Richard was left with a physical impediment as a result of a childhood accident so he was unable to persue a military career as he had wished.
He taught at several lycées, then in 1815 he was appointed professor at College de Pontivy. He held posts at the Collège Saint-Louis and then, from 1820, at Collège Louis-le-Grand where he attained his greatest fame as the teacher of Galois. Richard was appointed to a special chair at Collège Louis-le-Grand in 1822 and held this post until his death.
Richard also taught Le Verrier, Serret and Hermite. He was an outstanding teacher of mathematics but, despite being encouraged by his friends to do so, he published nothing.