Richard Carey was from Elizabeth City County, Virginia. He studied law and then practiced in the county courts.

Judicial career

In 1777, he was appointed as a judge of the court of admiralty where he soon became presiding judge. As a member of that court, he also became a member of the first Court of Appeals. In 1788, when the Court of Appeals was reorganized and was to have only five judges elected solely for that court, Carey was made a judge on the general court.

Death

He died in 1789.