William Henry Hunt (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Hunt, one of the few black Americans in United States
diplomatic corps
(foreign service) during the 19th century, began his career in diplomacy as an assistant to Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
. William Hunt was Mifflin Gibb's clerk during Gibbs' assignment as United States Consul to Madagascar
.
Hunt was born in 1863 during the American Civil War
in Tennessee
. Through a series of lucky encounters, he became one of three African-American students at Williams College
in Massachusetts
. William Henry Hunt was married to Ida Alexander Gibbs, the daughter of his mentor, Mifflin Wistar Gibbs. Ida Gibbs (1862-19XX) was educated at Oberlin College and was a friend of W.E.B. DuBois. Ida Gibbs and DuBois worked together on the Pan-African Congress
es of the early 20th century.
William Henry Hunt served in the United States diplomatic corps in Madagascar, France
, Portugal
, Guadeloupe
and Liberia
. His later career included law and politics in Arkansas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomatic corps
Diplomatic corps
The diplomatic corps or corps diplomatique is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body.The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission who represent their countries in another state or country...
(foreign service) during the 19th century, began his career in diplomacy as an assistant to Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs was an African-American abolitionist and judge. Gibbs was the eldest brother of fours siblings, including Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs, and was prominent in Reconstruction Arkansas...
. William Hunt was Mifflin Gibb's clerk during Gibbs' assignment as United States Consul to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
Hunt was born in 1863 during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Through a series of lucky encounters, he became one of three African-American students at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. William Henry Hunt was married to Ida Alexander Gibbs, the daughter of his mentor, Mifflin Wistar Gibbs. Ida Gibbs (1862-19XX) was educated at Oberlin College and was a friend of W.E.B. DuBois. Ida Gibbs and DuBois worked together on the Pan-African Congress
Pan-African Congress
The Pan-African Congress was a series of five meetings in 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1945 that were intended to address the issues facing Africa due to European colonization of much of the continent....
es of the early 20th century.
William Henry Hunt served in the United States diplomatic corps in Madagascar, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. His later career included law and politics in Arkansas.