Born in Hanover, New Hampshire. Graduate of Dartmouth in 1800. Studied law and was admitted to the bar. Married Love Allen in 1811. Married Mrs. Smith with two children.

Elected to Massachusetts Legislature and served 1807 to 1811. He was speaker in 1811. Elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1812.

Ripley entered the army in 1812. He took part in the 1813 invasion of Canada under General William Wilkinson. He fought at the battles of Fort Erie, Chippewa and Lundy's Lane in 1814. For this service he received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal.

He resigned from the army in 1820. He was elected to the Louisiana Senate in 1832. Elected to the United States House of Representatives and served March 4, 1835, to 1839. He died in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.

Congress honored Ripley with a gold medal by resolution November 3, 1814. The 65 mm medal (Julian MI-19) was by Moritz Furst. The gold medal authorized in 1814 was not struck until March 1838. The mint has produced modern copies (USM 415) of this medal.

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