Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards (August 16, 1848 – September 28, 1935) was an American military officer who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and then as a captain in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War. He was a member of the Muhlenberg family, a United States political, religious, and military dynasty based in the state of Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg College (an ELCA affiliated institution) in Allentown, Pennsylvania is named in after the family's honor.
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards |
| Born | August 16, 1848 Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 1935 (aged 87) Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1864-1878 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | Spanish–American War |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War
Spanish–American War
|
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
Richards was the grandson of Matthias Richards and great-grandson of Henry Muhlenberg. In 1905, the college purchased and relocated to a 51-acre (21 ha) tract located in Allentown's West End, the site of today's campus. Richards commanded regiments and campaigns during the Spanish-American War. Richards was also a published author, writer and wrote numerous books. His wife Ella was also a descendant of the Van Leer Family, some the earliest settlers of the Pennsylvania Colony who built a wealthy iron business and Van Leer's were descendants of a noble mayor Werner Von Loehr of Mainz.