Major-General Darius Nash Couch was born in Punam County, New York on 23 July 1822, and graduated from the United States military academy in 1846. He then was assigned to the 4th artillery, with which he served in the Mexican war, gaining the brevet of first lieutenant, 23 February, 1847, for gallant conduct at Buena Vista. He received his full commission on 4 December, served against the Seminoles in 1849-'50, and in 1853, when on leave of absence, made an Smithsonian Institution exploring expedition into Mexico, gaining distinction as a naturalist. While on expedition he discovered Couch's Kingbird -- tyrannus couchii.

In 1855, Couch resigned from the army and entered mercantile life in New York city. However, he returned to his army profession as colonel of volunteers when the Civil War began in 1861.

Couch was identified with the Department and Army ofthe Potomac, first as brigade commander from August 1861 to March 1862, then as division commander in the Fourth Army Corps to September 1862, when he was made major-general of volunteers and his division was tranferred to the Sixth Corps.

In October, 1862, Couch was placed at the head of the Second Corps, which he led at Fredericksburg and at Chancellorsville. From June 1863 to December 1864, he was at the head of the Department of the Susquehanne, when he was given a division of the twenty-third Army Corps, and fought at the battle of Nashville.

Couch resigned from teh army in 1865, and was defeated for bovernor of Massachusetts on the democratic ticket that same year. He then became a collector for the port of Boston and quartermaster-general and adjutant-general of Connecticut.

Couch died in Norwalk, Connecticut on 12 February 1897 and buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Taunton.