Dr. Rush was a physician in Philadelphia, a signatory on the Declaration of Independence, and financier of the American Revolution. James Biddel made his first journey to China in 1807 as First Officer of a merchant ship. He ceased travelling to Asia in 1812, but continued active duty on The Wasp, The Ontario, and The Macedonian as Commodore of the East Indian Squadron and negotiated the first treaty between the United States and China in 1846.