Richard Zachariah Mudge facts for kids

Richard Zachariah Mudge (1790–1854) was an English officer in the Royal Engineers. He was well-known for his important work as a surveyor, mapping land for the British government.

Early Life and Education

Richard Mudge was born in Plymouth on September 6, 1790. He was the oldest son of William Mudge, who was also a famous surveyor. Richard went to school at Blackheath and then to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. This is where he learned to be an engineer.

In 1807, when he was 17, he joined the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the same year.

Serving in the Peninsular War

In March 1809, Mudge traveled to Lisbon, Portugal. He joined the army led by Sir Arthur Wellesley (who later became the Duke of Wellington).

Richard Mudge was part of the battle of Talavera. After the battle, he explored the River Alberche. He was doing important reconnaissance work, which means he was scouting the area to gather information for the army. During this time, he was surprised by enemy soldiers and lost his horse and belongings.

He then joined the army's retreat to Badajoz. After that, he helped build the defensive lines around Lisbon. These were important structures to protect the city. In June 1810, he returned to England because he was not feeling well.

Becoming a Surveyor

After returning to England, Mudge began working with his father on the Ordnance Survey. This was a big project to map all of Great Britain. For several years, he was in charge of the drawing department at the Tower of London.

In 1813, he was promoted to second captain. In 1817, he helped a French scientist named Jean Baptiste Biot. Biot was in England to study how pendulums swing, which helps measure gravity. Mudge traveled with Biot to places like Leith Fort in Scotland, Aberdeen, and even to Unst in the Shetland Islands. While in Unst, Mudge became ill and had to go back to London.

In 1818, he supervised the mapping of Lincolnshire. He also traveled to France in 1819 and 1821 for survey work. Because of his important contributions, he became a member of the Fellow of the Royal Society in 1822. This is a very respected group of scientists. He continued to be promoted in the army, becoming a first captain in 1825 and a lieutenant-colonel in 1837. He stayed with the Ordnance Survey for a long time.

The Maine–New Brunswick Boundary Dispute

Around 1830, there was a big disagreement about the border between Maine (in the United States) and New Brunswick (in Canada, which was then part of the British Empire). This disagreement even led to a small conflict called the Aroostook War.

To try and solve the problem, the British government asked Richard Mudge and George William Featherstonhaugh to be commissioners in 1838. Their job was to examine the disputed land and report on the claims made by the United States.

In the spring of 1839, Mudge and Featherstonhaugh prepared their expedition. They arrived in New York in July and then went to Fredericton in New Brunswick. On August 24, they began their main journey to explore the border area. They reached Quebec in October. Mudge also took a short trip to Niagara before returning to New York and then to England by the end of the year.

In 1840, the commissioners studied the history of the border question. They reported that the border claimed by the United States did not match the land's features or the original treaty. However, they found a line of highlands further south that did fit the treaty's description. Their report was presented to the British Parliament.

This report helped lead to a compromise, which was settled by the Webster–Ashburton Treaty in 1842. This treaty finally resolved the border issue between the United States and British North America.

Later Life

Richard Mudge retired from the army on September 7, 1850. He lived at Beechwood, a property he inherited in Devon. He passed away in Teignmouth, Devon, on September 24, 1854, and was buried in Denbury.

His Writings

Mudge wrote a book called Observations on Railways, with reference to Utility, Profit, and the Obvious Necessity of a National System. It was published in London in 1837. This book showed his interest in how railways could be useful for the country.

Family Life

On September 1, 1817, Richard Mudge married Alice Watson. They had two daughters:

• Jane Rosedew, who married Rev. William Charles Raffles Flint. She died in 1883.
• Sophia Elizabeth, who married Rev. John Richard Bogue.