Richard Melancthon Hurd (June 14, 1865 – June 6, 1941) was a pioneer real estate economist and political activist. Hurd was born in New York City and attended St. Paul's School. He graduated from Yale University in 1888, where he was a member of Skull and Bones and an editor of The Yale Record. Particularly in his youth he was an avid hiker and mountain climber and visited Europe during summer with his father to enjoy the activity. His son Clement Hurd was an illustrator, known for the children's book Goodnight Moon.