Richard Zachariah Mudge

Richard Zachariah Mudge (also Zachary) (1790–1854) was an English officer of the Royal Engineers, known as a surveyor. Early life He was the eldest son of William Mudge, and great-grandson of Zachariah Mudge, born at Plymouth on 6 September 1790. He was educated at Blackheath and at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He received a commission as second lieutenant Royal Engineers on 4 May 1807, and was promoted first lieutenant on 14 July the same year. Peninsular War In March 1809 Mudge sailed for Lisbon, and joined the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley at Abrantes in May. He was present at the battle of Talavera, and on the enemy abandoning their position in front of Talavera he reconnoitred the River Alberche. He reached Escalona by the left bank, but taking the right bank to complete the reconnaissance, he was surprised by the enemy, who captured his attendant with his horse and baggage. He accompanied the army in the retreat from Talavera to Badajos, and was then employed in the construction of the lines of Lisbon. He returned to England on 20 June 1810 in poor health. Surveyor Mudge was employed under his father on the Ordnance Survey, and was for some years in charge of the drawing department at the Tower of London. He was promoted second captain on 21 July 1813. In 1817 he was directed to assist Jean Baptiste Biot, who was sent to England as the commissioner of the Bureau des Longitudes of Paris to take pendulum observations, and he accompanied Biot to Leith Fort near Edinburgh, to Aberdeen, and to Unst in the Shetland islands. At Unst Mudge fell ill, and had to return to London.