Sir Richard Church, a commander in the Greek war of independence, born in England in 1780, died in Athens, March 20, 1873. He entered the army in 1800, and having spent many years in the British and Neapolitan service, and held in 1813 the command of a Greek infantry corps, he in 1827 joined the Greeks in their struggle for independence. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Greek forces, and ordered by the national assembly of Troezene to march to the relief of Athens. His attempt to raise the siege failed, partly from want of prudence, partly from the dissensions which sprang up among the Greek chieftains, He continued in the service of Greece till 1829, when, owing to his being a foreigner, and to the personal hostility and jealousy of Capo d'Istrias, he was forced to resign. He retired to Argos, and was living in obscurity when he was ordered in 1830 to leave the Greek territory. He remained, however, and when Capo d'Istrias was assassinated in the following year, he was again placed at the head of the army, though he continued to oppose the administration of Augus-tin Capo d'Istrias, who had succeeded his brother as president.

On the establishment of the kingdom of Greece he was appointed a councillor of state, afterward became a member of the senate, and remained for many years at the head of the Greek army and navy. His death was honored by a national mourning at the request of the king.