Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquis of (1730-1782). Born in Yorkshire, England. Educated at Westminster School and St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1746 served as a volunteer against the Jacobites. In 1765 premier of a coalition ministry opposed to royal grants and general warrants; from 1768 to 1781 leader of the opposition in the House of Lords, during which time supported the proposals to grant independence to the American colonies. In 1782 again became prime minister. Throughout his political career upheld the contentions of the American colonists, and opposed to royal encroachments. Index: Dr Forms Cabinet, 192. Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.
Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Founded at St. Louis, in 1822, by William H. Ashley. The field of its operations was the Upper Missouri country. After an adventurous career of twelve years, in which Ashley, Andrew Henry, M. G. Sublette, and other well-known western American traders took a leading part, the company was disbanded at the annual rendezvous in Green River Valley, in the summer of 1834. Index: D Made famous by the enterprise of the trader Ashley, 134; re-establishes commercial communication between United States and Oregon, 134. Bib.: Chittenden, History of the American Fur Trade.
Rocky Mountain Portage. Leads across an elbow of the Peace River, in the mountains, about long. 122°, to avoid a series of dangerous rapids. First used by Alexander Mackenzie in 1793, on his expedition to the Pacific. The North West Company had a trading post here for many years; and one was afterwards maintained by the Hudson's Bay Company, but has long since been abandoned. Index: D Simon Fraser's first post built in 1805, 97. Bib.: Burpee, Search for the Western Sea.
Rocky Mountains. Commence in New Mexico, and extend north to the Arctic coast, west of the Mackenzie River. The highest known peaks in the Canadian Rockies are Mount Brown (16,000 feet) and Mount Hooker (15,690 feet). The general altitude of the range varies from 10,000 to 14,000 feet. The following are the principal passes in Canada: Boundary, 6030 feet above the sea; Kootenay, 5960 feet; Crow's Nest, 4845 feet; Kananaski, 5985 feet; Vermillion, 4947 feet; Kicking Horse, 5420 feet; Howse, 6347 feet; Athabaska, 7300 feet; Yellowhead, 3760 feet; Peace, 2000 feet. Index: WM Discovered by La Vérendrye, 19. D Crossed by Mackenzie, 54; by David Thompson, 58; by Simon Fraser, 59; by Lewis and Clarke, 67. Bib.: White, Atlas of Canada; Lovell, Gazetteer of Canada.
Rodier, Édouard. C As an orator, 7; influence on Cartier, 7.
Rodney, George Brydges, Baron (1718-1792). Born in Walton-upon-Thames, England. Educated at Harrow School. Entered the navy; promoted lieutenant, 1739, and captain, 1742. In 1748 appointed governor and commander-in-chief of the station of Newfoundland; in 1759 rear-admiral; in 1761 commander-in-chief of Barbados and the Windward Islands, and captured St. Pierre, Grenada, and St. Lucia; vice-admiral, 1762; made a baronet, 1764; master of Greenwich Hospital, 1765; admiral, 1779. On Jan. 16, 1780, won the battle of St. Vincent. Index: Hd His victory over French and Spanish fleets, 189. Dr His great victory in West Indies, 195. Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.
Roebuck, John Arthur (1801-1879). Born in Madras, India. Brought to Canada at an early age, and educated here. Went to England in 1824 to study law, and called to the bar in 1831. In 1832-1837 member of Parliament for the city of Bath, and in 1835 agent in England for the House of Assembly of Lower Canada. Again member for Bath, 1841-1847, and in 1849-1868 member for Sheffield. In 1855 moved in the House of Commons for a committee of inquiry into the conduct of the Crimean War, and on the resignation of Lord Aberdeen's government, elected chairman of the Sebastopol Committee appointed by Palmerston. In 1856 appointed chairman of the Administrative Reform Association. In 1874 re-elected member for Sheffield, which he represented until his death. Index: BL Correspondence with Papineau and Mackenzie, 229; speech on affairs in Canada, 231, 233; defends Rebellion Losses Bill, 325, 327. B Attacks Metcalfe's policy, 23. W On responsible government, 110. Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.
Rogers, Sir F. See Blachford.
Rogers, Robert (1727-1800). Born at Dunbarton, New Hampshire. In the War of 1755-1760 with the French, commanded Rogers's Rangers and distinguished himself in several engagements. Sent by Amherst in 1759 to destroy the Indian village of St. Francis near the St. Lawrence River. In 1760 took possession of Detroit and other western posts ceded by the French after the fall of Quebec. In 1765 George III appointed him governor of Mackinaw, Mich.; subsequently accused of intriguing with the Spaniards and tried by court-martial in Montreal, but released. Became colonel in the British army in North America, and commanded the Queen's Rangers. In 1777 went to England. Proscribed by the provincial Congress of New Hampshire, 1778. Bib.: Works: Concise Account of North America, 1765; Journals during the Late War, 1765. For biog., see Dict. Nat. Biog.
Rohault, de. F Establishes college for boys at Quebec, 28.