Ralph Metcalf graduated from Chester Academy and Dartmouth College, subsequently studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1826. He practiced law in New York and returned to New Hampshire, where he held various state positions, including Secretary of State and Register of Probate. Metcalf transitioned into politics, serving in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and on a state commission to codify statutes. He was elected Governor twice, during which he supported the passage of a prohibition law and was identified with the Republican Party.

Ralph Metcalf's political journey from Democrat to Republican reveals an ideological agility rarely seen in his era. His support for both abolitionist and prohibitionist policies indicates a unique blend of moral and regulatory governance. Metcalf's legislative efforts, particularly his backing of the prohibition law, show a calculated approach to social reform that balances regional interests with moral convictions.