William Rich
Encyclopedia
Major William Rich was an American botanist and explorer who was part of the United States Exploring Expedition
of 1838–1842.
William Rich was the youngest son of Captain Obadiah Rich (1758–1805) who commanded the brig Intrepid in the American Revolutionary War
, and his first wife Salome Lombard (1761–1807). In 1825, he co-founded the Botanic Club of Washington, and served as a joint editor of the American Botanical Register, 1825-30. Rich spent several years in Spain with his older brother, the bibliographer Obadiah Rich
. He joined the Scientific Corps of the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838 as botanist, and was in the 1841 overland party headed by George F. Emmons
that traveled south from the Oregon Territory
along the Siskiyou Trail
to upper California, before rejoining the expedition's ships in San Francisco
.
Rich "found escape from having to report on the expedition's botanical collections" in the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. In November, 1846, he was appointed paymaster, with the rank of major, to the troop of United States volunteers sent to subdue California. He was accompanied by his nephews, the surveyor and artist William Rich Hutton
and his younger brother James D. Hutton
, also a surveyor and artist.
The volunteer troops were disbanded when the war ended in 1848, but Rich continued to serve as paymaster until his honorable discharge on October 31, 1849. Rich collected botanical specimens for the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey
in 1848 and the Pacific Railroad Surveys
in 1853. He served briefly as secretary to the United States legation in Mexico.
Rich Passage
, a tidal strait in Puget Sound
, was named in his honor by Charles Wilkes
, leader of the Exploring Expedition.
United States Exploring Expedition
The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones. The voyage was authorized by Congress in...
of 1838–1842.
William Rich was the youngest son of Captain Obadiah Rich (1758–1805) who commanded the brig Intrepid in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and his first wife Salome Lombard (1761–1807). In 1825, he co-founded the Botanic Club of Washington, and served as a joint editor of the American Botanical Register, 1825-30. Rich spent several years in Spain with his older brother, the bibliographer Obadiah Rich
Obadiah Rich
Obadiah Rich was an American diplomat, bibliophile and bibliographer specializing the history of Latin America. He was credited with making the field of Americana a recognized field of scholarship by the bibliographer Nicholas Trübner.-Life and career:Obadiah Rich was born on Cape Cod, at Truro,...
. He joined the Scientific Corps of the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838 as botanist, and was in the 1841 overland party headed by George F. Emmons
George F. Emmons
George Foster Emmons was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served in the early to mid 19th century.-Biography:Born in Clarendon, Vermont, Emmons began his distinguished career as a midshipman on 1 April 1828...
that traveled south from the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
along the Siskiyou Trail
Siskiyou Trail
The Siskiyou Trail stretched from California's Central Valley to Oregon's Willamette Valley; modern-day Interstate 5 follows this pioneer path...
to upper California, before rejoining the expedition's ships in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Rich "found escape from having to report on the expedition's botanical collections" in the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. In November, 1846, he was appointed paymaster, with the rank of major, to the troop of United States volunteers sent to subdue California. He was accompanied by his nephews, the surveyor and artist William Rich Hutton
William Rich Hutton
William Rich Hutton was a surveyor and artist who became an architect and civil engineer in Maryland and New York in the latter half of the 19th century...
and his younger brother James D. Hutton
James D. Hutton
James Dempsey Hutton was an artist, surveyor, cartographer and early photographer active in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota in the years before the American Civil War. He served as an engineer in the Confederate States Army in that conflict, and died in exile in Mexico in...
, also a surveyor and artist.
The volunteer troops were disbanded when the war ended in 1848, but Rich continued to serve as paymaster until his honorable discharge on October 31, 1849. Rich collected botanical specimens for the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey
United States and Mexican Boundary Survey
The United States and Mexican Boundary Survey set the boundary between the United States and Mexico according to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American War. The results of the survey were published in a three-volume work, Report on the United States and Mexican boundary...
in 1848 and the Pacific Railroad Surveys
Pacific Railroad Surveys
The Pacific Railroad Surveys -A series of explorations of the American West to explore possible routes for a transcontinental railroad across North America. The expeditions included surveyors, scientists, and artists and resulted in an immense body of data covering at least on the American West....
in 1853. He served briefly as secretary to the United States legation in Mexico.
Rich Passage
Rich Passage
Rich Passage is a tidal strait in Puget Sound, allowing access to Bremerton, Washington, Port Orchard Bay and Dyes Inlet, and separating Bainbridge Island from the Manchester area of the Kitsap Peninsula. Due to the activities at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Rich Passage has a high volume of...
, a tidal strait in Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
, was named in his honor by Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
, leader of the Exploring Expedition.