This volume deals with a man whose life was intimately connected with a most significant formative period in American civilization. Son of the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush, Richard Rush was not such a dynamic personality, but in his earnest, gracious way he left almost as deep an imprint on many phases of national life. Educated as a lawyer, his first public: post was Attorney-General of Pennsylvania. This was followed in 1811 by appointment as Comptroller of the United States Treasury, and in 1814 as Attorney-General of the United States. He was Secretary of State in 1817, consummating the Rush-Bagot Convention de­militarizing the boundary between America and Canada. For eight years, 1817-1825, he was Minister to England, negotiating the Commercial Convention of 1818, conducting the initial conversations which led to the Monroe Doctrine, and working tirelessly for Anglo-American accord. He returned to the United States in 1825 to be Adams' Secretary of the Treasury and unsuccessful candidate for Vice-President in 1828. He was a leading advocate of internal improvements and prominent as an Anti-Mason, but split with his party over the Bank issue. In 1836 Jackson sent him to England to secure the estate of James Smithson, from which grew the Smithsonian Institution. His last office was that of Minister to France in 1847, completing a career of exceptional variety and service, which is described in this biography for the first time. In addition to his official activities, Rush was a prolific writer, chiefly of political pamphlets, but he also edited the first authentic collection of the federal statues and published the two volumes of "Memoranda" of his diplomatic missions. His life necessarily touched many of the great men of his day, and throughout this record of Richard Rush the background and personalities of an important historical period are clearly traced for the reader.

This book provides an account of the life and career of Richard Rush, an American statesman and diplomat from Pennsylvania. It covers his service as the US secretary of the treasury, attorney general, and minister to Britain and France. The book also discusses Rush's role in the negotiations leading up to the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. This book is recommended for anyone interested in the history of American politics and diplomacy in the early 19th century. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This is a new release of the original 1942 edition.