caption death_date death_place children birth_place image_size nationality birth_date spouse image article_title name occupation
engraving of william marsh rice 23 september 1900 new york , new york , united states none springfield , massachusetts , united states 200px american 14 march 1816 -lrb- 1st -rrb- margaret bremond william marsh rice.gif william marsh rice
 william marsh rice businessman
william marsh rice

william marsh rice -lrb- march 14 , 1816 -- september 23 , 1900 -rrb- was an american businessman who bequeathed his fortune to found rice university in houston , texas .
