Richard M. Edwards was born near Philadelphia, Tennessee, and later moved to Cleveland, where he attended Oak Grove Academy. He enlisted in the 5th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry during the Mexican–American War and subsequently studied law, gaining admission to the bar. Edwards held various roles in the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Union Army during the Civil War, demonstrating his commitment to the Union cause. Postwar, he engaged in political campaigns and advocated for lenient measures toward former Confederates, aligning with the Greenback Party platform.

Richard M. Edwards's political identity is marked by a distinctive blend of Union loyalty with a fierce advocacy for economic fairness, particularly through his alignment with the Greenback Party. Despite his service in the Union Army, Edwards's postwar stance reveals a surprising leniency towards former Confederates, contrasting sharply with Radical Republican policies. His rhetoric often targets economic elites, as evidenced by his vivid metaphor of crushing bondholders and railroad magnates. This combination of military service and radical economic proposals creates a complex ideological profile that invites deeper exploration into how he reconciles these seemingly divergent priorities.