Richard Henry Moores was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England in early 1868 and he was baptised in St Luke's Church on 3 October 1869.

He was the son of Charles Moores (b. 1844), a ship's fireman, and Harriett Batten (b. 1844), Hampshire-natives who had married in 1867. He had two known siblings: Harriett (b. 1863) and Charles (b. 1871)

Richard first appears on the 1871 census when he and his family were lodgers at 171 Alps (?) Street in St Mary, Southampton. Living with his family at 3 Mount Pleasant, Paynes Road, Millbrook on the 1881 census, Richard had already left school and was working as a slater's labourer. He was only 13-years-old but the census declared him to be 15. His father died in 1885 aged 41 and his mother was remarried but what became of her is unknown.

Richard was married in Southampton in 1892 to Annie Elizabeth Bailey (b. 1871 in Hampshire). The couple would have no children. After sixteen years of marriage Richard was widowed in 1908 when his wife died aged 37; he was not remarried.

By the time of the 1911 census Richard was listed as a visitor at 174 Northumberland Road, Southampton, the home of a Mr Frank John Glanville and his family, and he was described as a widowed ship's fireman aged 43.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 174 Northumberland Road, (Southampton). His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a greaser he could expect monthly wages of £6, 10s.

Richard Moores died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

He is remembered on the family headstone in Southampton Old Common Cemetery (section B 169, plot 78).