Richard Rush

Born in Philadelphia in 1780, Richard Rush was the son of Benjamin Rush, one of the best-known figures of the American Revolution. Trained as a lawyer, he entered public life early and built a reputation as a careful, capable public servant.

Rush held several major national posts, including U.S. attorney general, secretary of the treasury, and minister to Great Britain and France. He is especially remembered for his diplomatic work in Britain during the Monroe administration, when he helped represent American interests in a period of growing international confidence for the young republic.

Along with his government service, Rush also wrote about his era, leaving behind memoirs and recollections that give readers a firsthand view of nineteenth-century politics and diplomacy. He died in 1859, after a career that stretched across many of the most important offices in American public life.