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{{Short description|American lawyer, politician and diplomat (1780–1859)}}
{{for-multi|the director|Richard Rush (director)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Richard Rush
| image               = Richard-Rush.jpg
| office              = 17th [[United States Ambassador to France|United States Minister to France]]
| president           = [[James K. Polk|James Polk]]<br>[[Zachary Taylor]]
| term_start          = July 31, 1847
| term_end            = October 8, 1849
| predecessor         = [[William R. King|William King]]
| successor           = [[William Cabell Rives|William Rives]]
| office1             = 8th [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]]
| president1          = [[John Quincy Adams]]<br>[[Andrew Jackson]]
| term_start1         = March 7, 1825
| term_end1           = March 5, 1829
| predecessor1        = [[William H. Crawford|William Crawford]]
| successor1          = [[Samuel D. Ingham|Samuel Ingham]]
| office2             = 8th [[United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom|United States Minister to the United Kingdom]]
| president2          = [[James Monroe]]<br>[[John Quincy Adams]]
| term_start2         = February 12, 1818
| term_end2           = April 27, 1825
| predecessor2        = [[John Quincy Adams]]
| successor2          = [[Rufus King]]
| office3             = Acting [[United States Secretary of State]]
| president3          = [[James Monroe]]
| term_start3         = March 10, 1817
| term_end3           = September 22, 1817
| predecessor3        = [[John Graham (diplomat)|John Graham]] (acting)
| successor3          = [[John Quincy Adams]]
| office4             = 8th [[United States Attorney General]]
| president4          = [[James Madison]]<br>[[James Monroe]]
| term_start4         = February 10, 1814
| term_end4           = November 12, 1817
| predecessor4        = [[William Pinkney]]
| successor4          = [[William Wirt (attorney general)|William Wirt]]
| office5             = [[Comptroller of the Treasury]]
| president5          = [[James Madison]]
| term_start5         = 1811
| term_end5           = 1812
| office6             = [[Pennsylvania Attorney General|Attorney General of Pennsylvania]]
| governor6           = [[Simon Snyder]]
| term_start6         = January 26, 1811
| term_end6           = December 13, 1811
| predecessor6        = [[Joseph Reed (lawyer)|Joseph Reed]]
| successor6          = [[Jared Ingersoll]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1780|8|29}}
| birth_place         = [[Philadelphia]], Province of Pennsylvania, British America
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1859|7|30|1780|8|29}}
| death_place         = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| resting_place       = [[Laurel Hill Cemetery]], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| party               = [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] (before 1830)<br>[[National Republican Party|National Republican]] (1830–1834)<br>[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (1834–1859)
| spouse              = Catherine Rush
| relatives           = [[Benjamin Rush]] (father)<br/>[[James Rush]] (brother)
| education           = [[Princeton University|College of New Jersey]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}<br/>(renamed Princeton)
| signature           = Richard Rush signature.png
| children            = [[Benjamin Rush (lawyer)|Benjamin Rush]]<br/>[[Richard H. Rush]]
}}
'''Richard Rush''' (August 29, 1780 – July 30, 1859) was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat who served as the 8th [[United States Attorney General]] from 1814 to 1817 and the 8th [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]] from 1825 to 1829. He served as [[John Quincy Adams]]'s running mate on the [[National Republican]] ticket during the [[1828 United States presidential election]].

He served as [[List of Pennsylvania Attorneys General|Attorney General of Pennsylvania]] in 1811 and as [[Comptroller of the Treasury]] during the [[James Madison]] administration. Rush became one of Madison's closest advisers during the [[War of 1812]] and Madison elevated him to United States Attorney General in 1814. Rush remained in that position after [[James Monroe]] took office. He served as the acting [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] briefly in 1817 and negotiated the [[Rush–Bagot Treaty]], which limited naval forces on the [[Great Lakes]].

Rush served as the [[United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom|ambassador to Britain]] from 1818 to 1825. He negotiated the [[Treaty of 1818]] which set the boundary between the U.S. and Canada and had discussions with [[George Canning]] that led to the announcement of the [[Monroe Doctrine]]. He served as [[United States Ambassador to France|minister to France]] from 1847 to 1849. He helped establish and served on the board of regents for the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. He was the last surviving member of the Madison<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald-last/178795094/|title=Death of Hon. Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania|date=August 2, 1859|publisher=New York Daily Herald|access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> and Monroe Cabinets.

==Early life and education==
Rush was born on August 29, 1780, in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He was the second son, and third child, of [[Benjamin Rush]] and Julia (Stockton) Rush, daughter of [[Richard Stockton (Continental Congressman)|Richard Stockton]] and [[Annis Boudinot Stockton]].{{sfn|Powell|1942|page=5}} He entered the College of New Jersey (now known as [[Princeton University]]) at the age of 14, and graduated in 1797 as the youngest member of his class. He studied law in the practice of [[William Lewis (judge)|William Lewis]] and was admitted to the bar in 1800.{{sfn|Powell|1942|page=6}}

Rush married Catherine Eliza Murray on the fall of 1809.{{sfn|Powell|1942|page=8}} They were the parents of eleven children including the lawyer and writer [[Benjamin Rush (lawyer)|Benjamin Rush]] and [[Union Army]] colonel [[Richard H. Rush]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Rush papers, 1812-1856 |url=https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-wcl-M-364rus |website=findiingaids.lib.umich.edu |publisher=University of Michigan Library |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>

==Career==
As a lawyer, Rush first gained attention with a speech he gave which condemned the British naval attack during the [[Chesapeake–Leopard affair|Chesapeake-Leopard affair]].<ref name=Buel>{{cite book |last1=Buel |first1=Richard Jr. |last2=Lennox |first2=Jeffers |title=Historical Dictionary of the Early American Republic - Second Edition |date=2017 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=9781442262980 |page=305 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yjGQDQAAQBAJ |access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref> In 1811 he was appointed [[Attorney General of Pennsylvania]]. He successfully acquitted [[William Duane (journalist)|William Duane]] in a libel suit brought forth by the Pennsylvania Governor [[Thomas McKean]]. His popularity prompted an offer to run for Congress but he declined.{{sfn|Powell|1942|pages=7-8}} In November 1811, President [[James Madison]] appointed Rush [[Comptroller of the Treasury]].<ref name=Britannica/>

From the position as Comptroller of the Treasury, albeit a subordinate position, Rush functioned as one of President Madison's closest friends and confidential advisors throughout the [[War of 1812]]. Rush was on the field of battle along with Madison during the [[Battle of Bladensburg]].<ref name=Buel/> He was one of the [[War Hawks (War of 1812)|War Hawks]] who advocated war with Britain. In 1814 Madison offered Rush the choice of [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] or [[Attorney General of the United States]], and Rush chose Attorney General.<ref name=Buel/> With his appointment as Attorney General, Rush became the youngest person to serve in that office. Rush served as United States Attorney General from 1814 to 1817. At this time the attorney generalship was a part-time position, and so Rush also maintained his private law practice while in this office. He edited ''Laws of the United States'', which codified all the federal statutes implemented between 1789 and 1815.<ref name=encyclopedia.com>{{cite web |title=Rush, Richard |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/us-history-biographies/richard-rush |website=www.encyclopedia.com |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref>

He was acting [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] briefly in 1817. During this time Rush concluded the [[Rush-Bagot Convention]], which demilitarized the Canadian boundary on the [[Great Lakes (North America)|Great Lakes]].<ref name=encyclopedia.com/>

In October 1817, Rush was appointed [[United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom|Minister to Britain]]<ref name=DOJ>{{cite web |title=Attorney General: Richard Rush |url=https://www.justice.gov/ag/bio/rush-richard |website=www.justice.gov |date=23 October 2014 |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref> to succeed [[John Quincy Adams]], who had taken the position of [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] upon his return. He remained in Britain for almost eight years, and negotiated a number of important treaties, including the [[Treaty of 1818]].<ref name=encyclopedia.com/>

In 1823, Rush negotiated with [[George Canning]] over British proposals that the two countries issue a joint declaration against French involvement in Spain's rebelling American colonies, but Britain would not agree to American demands for recognition of the newly independent republics, leading to the separate American declaration of the [[Monroe Doctrine]].<ref name=encyclopedia.com/> He wrote about his experience as Minister to Britain in ''A Residence in the Court of St. James''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Attorneys General of the United States 1789-1979 |date=1980 |publisher=United States Department of Justice |location=Washington, D.C. |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FiaIJbQEE5IC |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>

[[File:RUSH, Richard-BEP069-Treasury (BEP engraved portrait).jpg|thumb|[[Bureau of Engraving and Printing]] portrait of Rush as Secretary of the Treasury.]]
Upon the election of John Quincy Adams in 1825, Rush (having made a study of Britain, and the British Navy in particular, while he was there) desired to become the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]]. Adams, however, immediately nominated him for the post of [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]], which he accepted.<ref name=Buel/>

In [[U.S. presidential election, 1828|1828]], he was a candidate for [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] on the re-election ticket with John Quincy Adams, but was defeated.<ref name=Buel/>

In 1829, he went overseas at the behest of the cities of [[Alexandria, Virginia]], and [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]], to secure funds for the construction of a canal connecting the [[Chesapeake Bay]] and the [[Ohio River]].{{sfn|Powell|1942|page=3}}

In 1836, President [[Andrew Jackson]] sent him to England as Commissioner to secure for the [[United States]] the legacy left the government by [[James Smithson]]. He was successful in this undertaking, bringing to this country the sum of $508,318.46, which would eventually be used to establish the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] Rush later became one of the first regents of the institution.<ref>Heather Ewing (2007). ''The Lost World of James Smithson: Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the Smithsonian''. Bloomsbury USA.</ref>

After a short time with the [[Anti-Masonic Party]], in the later 1830s Rush became a member of the Democratic Party.<ref>G. G. van D., "Review of Richard Rush Diplomat" in ''The English Historical Review'' vol. 61, no. 239 (Jan. 1946) p. 120</ref> He was opposed to anti-slavery sentiments because he believed they threatened the stability of the Union.<ref name=Buel/>

In 1847, Richard Rush was appointed as [[United States Ambassador to France|Minister to France]] by President [[James K. Polk]]. When his negotiations were interrupted by the overthrow of King [[Louis-Philippe of France|Louis-Philippe]], he was among the first foreign diplomats to recognize the new [[French Second Republic]].<ref name=Buel/>

===Societies===
Rush was elected a member of the [[American Antiquarian Society]] in 1814.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.americanantiquarian.org/memberlistr |website=www.americanantiquarian.org |publisher=American Antiquarian Society |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref> In 1817, Rush elected a member of the [[American Philosophical Society]].<ref>{{cite web |title=American Philosophical Society Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=1817&year-max=1817&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |website=search.amphilsoc.org |publisher=American Philosophical Society |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref> During the 1820s, Rush was a member of the prestigious society, [[Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences]], who counted among their members former presidents [[Andrew Jackson]] and [[John Quincy Adams]] and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.<ref name="rathbun">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MY-5AAAAIAAJ&q=%22columbian+institute%22&pg=PA118 |title=The Columbian institute for the promotion of arts and sciences: A Washington Society of 1816–1838. |first=Richard |last=Rathbun |access-date=2010-06-20|year=1904 |publisher=Bulletin of the United States National Museum, October 18, 1917}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
He died in Philadelphia on July 30, 1859,<ref name=Britannica>{{cite web |title=Richard Rush |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Rush |website=www.britannica.com |publisher=Britannica |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref> and was interred at [[Laurel Hill Cemetery]] in Philadelphia.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=aMiA05P92h8C&dq=richard+rush+laurel+hill&pg=PA309 ''Biographical Dictionary of the United States Secretaries of the Treasury'']</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Rush |url=https://remembermyjourney.com/memorials/richard-rush?id=JYa9RzaY |website=remembermyjourney.com |publisher=webCemeteries |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>

Five [[United States Coast Guard]] vessels were named in his honor:
*[[USRC Rush (1831)|USRC ''Richard Rush'']] 1831 [[Morris-Taney-class cutter|Morris-Taney class cutter]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Rush, 1831 (Richard Rush; USRCS & USLHS) |url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Article/2402172/rush-1831-richard-rush-usrcs-uslhs/ |website=www.history.uscg.mil |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[USRC Richard Rush (1874)|USGC ''Richard Rush'']] 1874 Dexter-class cutter<ref>{{cite web |title=Rush (Richard Rush), 1874 |url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Article/2402181/rush-richard-rush-1874/ |website=www.history.uscg.mil |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[USRC Rush (1885)|USRC ''Rush'']] 1885 [[Cutter (boat)|revenue cutter]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Rush, 1885 (Richard Rush) |url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Article/2402186/rush-1885-richard-rush/ |website=www.history.uscg.mil |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
*USS ''Rush II (WSC-151)'' 1927 cutter<ref>{{cite web |title=Rush II (WSC-151) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/r/rush-ii.html |website=www.history.navy.mil |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[USCGC Rush (WHEC-723)|USCGC ''Rush'' (WHEC-723)]] 1969 [[Hamilton-class cutter]]<ref>{{cite web |title=RUSH WHEC 723 |url=https://www.navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/RUSH_WHEC_723 |website=www.navalcovermuseum.org |publisher=Naval Cover Museum |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>

The [[USCGC Rush (WMSM-918)|USCGC ''Rush (WMSM-918)'']] [[Heritage-class cutter]]<ref>{{cite web |title=USCGC Rush (WMSM-918) |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1772971/the-offshore-patrol-cutter-opc-is-the-coast-guards-highest-investment-priority/ |website=www.dcms.uscg.mil |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref> is under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steel cutting for fourth offshore patrol cutter begins |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/3192452/steel-cutting-for-fourth-offshore-patrol-cutter-begins/ |website=www.dcms.uscg.mil |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref>

==Publications==
*''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Reflections%20Upon%20the%20Administration%20of%20J/2I44AQAAMAAJ Thoughts on the Administration of Justice in Pennsylvania.]'', Philadelphia: Hopkins and Earle, 1809
*''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Memoranda%20of%20a%20Residence%20at%20the%20Court%20of/qB5NAAAAMAAJ Memoranda of a Residence at the Court of London]'', Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1833
*''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Two%20Letters%20on%20Public%20Subjects%20from%20Rich/ag9hAAAAcAAJ Two Letters on Public Subjects.]'', Philadelphia: L.R. Bailey, Printer, 1851
*''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Washington%20in%20Domestic%20Life/dBgFAAAAYAAJ Washington in Domestic Life. From Original Letters and Manuscripts.]'', Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott and Co., 1857

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

'''Sources'''
* {{cite book
  | last = Powell
  | first = J.H.
  | year = 1942
  | title = Richard Rush Republican Diplomat 1780-1859
  | publisher = University of Pennsylvania Press
  | isbn = 9781512805819
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2VErEAAAQBAJ
  }}

==External links==
{{AmCyc Poster|Rush, Benjamin|Richard Rush}}
* {{Gutenberg author |id=4136| name=Richard Rush}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Richard Rush}}
* {{Find a Grave|22740}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Ambassador to France|United States Minister to France]]|years=1847–1849}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new|party}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[National Republican Party|National Republican]] nominee for [[Vice President of the United States]]|years=[[1828 United States presidential election|1828]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Sergeant (politician)|John Sergeant]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Unsuccessful major party VPOTUS candidates}}
{{Federalist Party}}
{{Whig Party (United States)}}
{{USAttGen}}
{{USSecTreas}}
{{US Ambassadors to France}}
{{US Ambassadors to the UK}}
{{Madison cabinet}}
{{Monroe cabinet}}
{{JQ Adams cabinet}}
{{1828 United States presidential election}}
{{1832 United States presidential election}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rush, Richard}}
[[Category:1780 births]]
[[Category:1820 United States vice-presidential candidates]]
[[Category:1828 United States vice-presidential candidates]]
[[Category:1859 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century American diplomats]]
[[Category:19th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Acting United States secretaries of state]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to France]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Anti-Masonic Party politicians from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia)]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1832 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Comptrollers of the United States Treasury]]
[[Category:John Quincy Adams administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:Madison administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:Monroe administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania attorneys general]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Democrats]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania lawyers]]
[[Category:Politicians from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Princeton University alumni]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Federalists]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania National Republicans]]
[[Category:Smithsonian Institution people]]
[[Category:Stockton family (New Jersey)]]
[[Category:Attorneys general of the United States]]
[[Category:United States secretaries of the treasury]]