William Henry Trescot
Encyclopedia
William Henry Trescot was an American
diplomatist born in Charleston, South Carolina
, on the November 10, 1822. He graduated at College of Charleston
in 1840, studied law at Harvard University
, and was admitted to the bar in 1843.
From 1852 to 1854 he was secretary of the U.S.
legation in London
. In June 1860 he was appointed assistant secretary of state, and he was acting secretary of state in June-October, during General Lewis Cass
's absence from Washington
, and for a few days in December after Cass's resignation. His position was important, as the only South Carolinian holding anything like official rank, because of his intimacy with President James Buchanan
, and his close relations with the secession leaders in South Carolina.
He opposed the re-enforcement of Fort Sumter
, used his influence to prevent any attack on the fort by South Carolina before the meeting of the state's convention called to consider the question of secession, and became the special agent of South Carolina in Washington after his resignation from his position as United States Assistant Secretary of State
in December. He returned to Charleston in February 1861; was a member of the state legislature in 1862-1866, and served as colonel on the staff of General Roswell S. Ripley
during the Civil War
; and later returned to Washington.
He was counsel for the United States before the Halifax Fishery Commission in 1877; was commissioner for the revision of the treaty with China
in 1880; was minister to Chile
in 1881-1882; in 1882 with General Ulysses S. Grant
negotiated a commercial treaty with Mexico
; and in 1889-1890 was a delegate to the Pan-American Congress
in Washington. He died at Pendleton, South Carolina
, his country place, on 4 May 1898.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomatist born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, on the November 10, 1822. He graduated at College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
in 1840, studied law at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1843.
From 1852 to 1854 he was secretary of the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
legation in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In June 1860 he was appointed assistant secretary of state, and he was acting secretary of state in June-October, during General Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
's absence from Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and for a few days in December after Cass's resignation. His position was important, as the only South Carolinian holding anything like official rank, because of his intimacy with President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
, and his close relations with the secession leaders in South Carolina.
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
, used his influence to prevent any attack on the fort by South Carolina before the meeting of the state's convention called to consider the question of secession, and became the special agent of South Carolina in Washington after his resignation from his position as United States Assistant Secretary of State
United States Assistant Secretary of State
In modern times, Assistant Secretary of State is a title used for many executive positions in the United States State Department. A set of six Assistant Secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs manage diplomatic missions within their designated geographic regions, plus one...
in December. He returned to Charleston in February 1861; was a member of the state legislature in 1862-1866, and served as colonel on the staff of General Roswell S. Ripley
Roswell S. Ripley
Roswell Sabine Ripley was an officer in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War and, despite being Northern-born, a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War...
during the 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...
; and later returned to Washington.
He was counsel for the United States before the Halifax Fishery Commission in 1877; was commissioner for the revision of the treaty with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1880; was minister to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1881-1882; in 1882 with General Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
negotiated a commercial treaty with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
; and in 1889-1890 was a delegate to the Pan-American Congress
Pan-American Congress
Pan-American Congress may refer to:* Congress of Panama, in 1826* First International Conference of American States, in 1889–1890, arranged by President Benjamin Harrison's Secretary of State James G. Blaine...
in Washington. He died at Pendleton, South Carolina
Pendleton, South Carolina
Pendleton is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,966 at the 2000 census. It is a sister city of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland....
, his country place, on 4 May 1898.
Works
- The Diplomacy of the Revolution (1852)
- An American View of the Eastern Question (1854)
- The Diplomatic History of the Administrations of Washington and Adams (1857)
- Memorial of the life of J. Johnston PettigrewJ. Johnston PettigrewJames Johnston Pettigrew was an author, lawyer, linguist, diplomat, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War...
: Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the Confederate States ArmyConfederate States ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
(1870)