William Burnet Kinney
Encyclopedia
William Burnet Kinney was an American
politician and diplomat.
His grandfather, Sir Thomas Kinney, came to the United States from England before the Revolution to explore the mineral resources of New Jersey
. William Burnet received a good education. After graduating from Princeton University
, he studied law under Joseph C. Hornblower. In 1820, he began the life of an editor in Newark, New Jersey
, where he founded the Advertiser in 1832. He continued to lead this life until his appointment, in 1851, as U. S. minister to Sardinia
. Prior to this event, he had been conspicuous in various public capacities, and among them as a delegate, in 1844, to the Baltimore Whig
convention, where he was largely instrumental in securing the nomination of his friend, Theodore Frelinghuysen
, for the vice-presidency, with Henry Clay
.
While minister at Turin
he discussed with Count Cavour and other eminent men of the kingdom of Sardinia
the movement for the unification of Italy
. He rendered also, at the same time, important services to Great Britain
, for which he received an acknowledgment in a special despatch from Lord Palmerston. When the U. S. government offered to transport Lajos Kossuth
to the United States in a national ship, detached from the Mediterranean Squadron
. Kinney made himself acquainted with the aims and purposes of the Hungarian
exile, and gave prompt instructions to the commander, and information to his own government, of the objects of the fugitive. Daniel Webster
, who was at that time United States Secretary of State
, thwarted Kossuth's philanthropic but impracticable efforts to enlist the United States in a foreign complication.
On the expiration of his term of office, Kinney moved from Turin to Florence
, where he devoted much of his time to researching the Medici family with a view to producing a historical work, but he did not live to accomplish it. In 1841, he married Elizabeth Clementine Stedman
, the author.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and diplomat.
His grandfather, Sir Thomas Kinney, came to the United States from England before the Revolution to explore the mineral resources of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. William Burnet received a good education. After graduating from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, he studied law under Joseph C. Hornblower. In 1820, he began the life of an editor in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, where he founded the Advertiser in 1832. He continued to lead this life until his appointment, in 1851, as U. S. minister to Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
. Prior to this event, he had been conspicuous in various public capacities, and among them as a delegate, in 1844, to the Baltimore Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
convention, where he was largely instrumental in securing the nomination of his friend, Theodore Frelinghuysen
Theodore Frelinghuysen
Theodore Frelinghuysen was an American politician, serving as New Jersey Attorney General, United States Senator, and Mayor of Newark, New Jersey before running as a candidate for Vice President with Henry Clay on the Whig ticket in the election of 1844...
, for the vice-presidency, with Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
.
While minister at Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
he discussed with Count Cavour and other eminent men of the kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
the movement for the unification of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He rendered also, at the same time, important services to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, for which he received an acknowledgment in a special despatch from Lord Palmerston. When the U. S. government offered to transport Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.-Family:Lajos...
to the United States in a national ship, detached from the Mediterranean Squadron
Mediterranean Squadron
The Mediterranean Squadron, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was part of the United States Navy in the 19th century that operated in the Mediterranean Sea. It was formed in response to the Barbary Wars. Between 1801 and 1818, the squadron was composed of a series of rotating squadrons...
. Kinney made himself acquainted with the aims and purposes of the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
exile, and gave prompt instructions to the commander, and information to his own government, of the objects of the fugitive. Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, who was at that time United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, thwarted Kossuth's philanthropic but impracticable efforts to enlist the United States in a foreign complication.
On the expiration of his term of office, Kinney moved from Turin to Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, where he devoted much of his time to researching the Medici family with a view to producing a historical work, but he did not live to accomplish it. In 1841, he married Elizabeth Clementine Stedman
Elizabeth Clementine Stedman
Elizabeth Clementine Stedman was an American writer, a daughter of David L. Dodge, a sister of William E. Dodge and the mother of Edmund Clarence Stedman. She was born in New York City. She was married first to Edmund B. Stedman, a merchant who died in 1835, and was married again, in 1841, to...
, the author.