Joseph Goldsborough Bruff
Encyclopedia
J. Goldsborough Bruff was an artist, draftsman, historian and topographer during the California Gold Rush
era.
He was born in Washington, D.C.
. In the 1840s, Bruff resigned from the United States Military Academy
at West Point for a minor infraction of the rules. He then worked for the United States Bureau of Topographical Engineers where he created many of the maps used by the United States government, including maps of battle sites from the war with Mexico. In 1849, he was among the "49ers" who headed west during the California Gold Rush. He was a captain of the Washington City and California Mining and Wagon Company.
During the 1840s and 1850s, he kept extensive journals of his travels. He spent two years drawing pictures of the mining camps and the Mother Lode country. His pen-and-ink sketches were illustrated in his journal. Bruff spent his final 13 years in the office of the Supervising Architect, United States Department of the Treasury
, Washington, DC.
in Washington, DC. After his death, his writings were published in a two volume set of books called "Gold Rush: The Journals, Drawings, and Other Papers of J. Goldsborough Bruff." Many historians consider the writings to be some of the best sources of information on the Gold Rush. While serving as the supervising architect of the Treasury Department after the Civil War
, he designed Cyrus Field
's Congressional Gold Medal.
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
era.
Career
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In the 1840s, Bruff resigned from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point for a minor infraction of the rules. He then worked for the United States Bureau of Topographical Engineers where he created many of the maps used by the United States government, including maps of battle sites from the war with Mexico. In 1849, he was among the "49ers" who headed west during the California Gold Rush. He was a captain of the Washington City and California Mining and Wagon Company.
During the 1840s and 1850s, he kept extensive journals of his travels. He spent two years drawing pictures of the mining camps and the Mother Lode country. His pen-and-ink sketches were illustrated in his journal. Bruff spent his final 13 years in the office of the Supervising Architect, United States Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
, Washington, DC.
Death
Bruff died in 1889 and is buried at the National Congressional CemeteryCongressional Cemetery
The Congressional Cemetery is a historic cemetery located at 1801 E Street, SE, in Washington, D.C., on the west bank of the Anacostia River. It is the final resting place of thousands of individuals who helped form the nation and the city of Washington in the early 19th century. Many members of...
in Washington, DC. After his death, his writings were published in a two volume set of books called "Gold Rush: The Journals, Drawings, and Other Papers of J. Goldsborough Bruff." Many historians consider the writings to be some of the best sources of information on the Gold Rush. While serving as the supervising architect of the Treasury Department after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he designed Cyrus Field
Cyrus West Field
Cyrus West Field was an American businessman and financier who, along with other entrepreneurs, created the Atlantic Telegraph Company and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean in 1858.-Life and career:...
's Congressional Gold Medal.