Richmond Alexander Lattimore (May 6, 1906 – February 26, 1984) was an eminent American poet and classicist renowned for his compelling translations of Greek classics. His interpretations of the Iliad and Odyssey are particularly celebrated, often regarded as the finest English renditions of these epic poems.

Lattimore's academic journey began with his graduation from Dartmouth College in 1926, followed by an A.B. from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar at Christ Church in 1932. He achieved his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1934, marking the start of his notable contributions to classical literature and education.