author
Richard Rush
1780–1859
A gifted American diplomat and statesman, he helped shape early U.S. policy at home and abroad, from the War of 1812 era to high-level negotiations with Britain. His career reached across law, diplomacy, and finance, making him one of the most versatile public figures of his generation.
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About the author
Born in Philadelphia on August 29, 1780, he was the son of Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He studied at Princeton, became a lawyer, and rose quickly in public service, serving as attorney general of Pennsylvania before joining the national government.
He went on to serve as U.S. attorney general, acting secretary of state, minister to Britain and France, and secretary of the treasury. He is especially remembered for helping negotiate the Rush-Bagot Agreement, which reduced naval armament on the Great Lakes after the War of 1812.
Richard Rush died in Philadelphia on July 30, 1859. Remembered as a lawyer, diplomat, and statesman, he played a steady role in the early republic during a period when the United States was defining its place in the world.