This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received 69-11,629 DUNHAM, Chester Gray, 1923- THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER OF CHRISTOPHER HUGHES. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1968 History, modern University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan Copyright by Chester Gray Dunham 1969 THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER CP CHRISTOPHER HUGHES DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Chester Gray Dunham, A.B., M.A. ****** The Ohio State University 1968 Approved by Harry L. Coles, Adviser Department of History ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The late Jesse Slddall Reeves of the University of I'iichigan obtained custody about 1930 of a large collection of the papers of Christopher -"ughes, recognized their his­ torical value, and apparently intended to use then in the preparation of a biography or some other study of Eughes. Failing to obtain access to the important Adams family papers, houever, he contented himse?f with the publication of a small portion of the Hughes papers in the Michigan Alumnus Quarterly Review and preserved the collection for posterity. After the death of Reeves, the Milliam L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan received the papers, has added to them, and has made them available to scholars. Howard l-I. Feckham, director of the library, William 3. Swing, curator of manuscripts, and Albert T. Klyberg of the manuscript division cheerfully granted access to the mag­ nificent resources of the library and provided valuable guidance and assistance in using, them. Other persons who helped mightily in discovering and assembling source materials for this study are Michael Hart of the University of Virginia Library, Christine D. ii Hathaway of the Brown University Library, James J . Heslin of the New-York Historical Society, Gertrude D. Hess of the American Philosophical Society Library, John D. Xilbourne of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, David C. Mearns of the Library of Congress, Avril J. M. Pedley of the Maryland Historical Society, and Stephen T. Riley of the Massachusetts Historical Society. The rich resources of these institutions contributed much to an understanding of Hughes. Harry L. Coles, chairman of the history department of The Ohio State University, advised and encouraged with patience, persistence, and promptitude. lii VITA February 11, 1923 Bom - Chicago, Illinois 1943-1946 Lieutenant, U.S. Army 1948 A.B., Cberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 1949-1964 Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State 1965 M.A., The Ohio State University, I Columbus, Ohio 1965-1966 Teaching assistant. Department of History, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1967-1968 Instructor in History, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: American history Studies in American diplomatic history Professor Harry L. Coles iv Key to Abbreviations In Citations Ar Microfilms of The Adams Papers ovnaed by the Adams Manuscript Trust and deposited In the Massachusetts Historical Society APSL American Philosophical Society Library BUL Bro^vn University Library DUL Duke University Library HSP Historical Society of Pennsylvania LC Library of Congress MDHS Maryland Historical Society MHS Massachusetts Historical Society NA National Archives, Records of the Department of State NYHS New-York Historical Society UVL University of Virginia Library V.'LCL Ù-111 lam L. Clements Library TABLE OP CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................... 11 VITA ............................................. Iv KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS.............................. v I INTRODUCTION .................................. 1 II TOWARD A DIPLOMATIC CAREER .................... 11 Apprentice to Five Masters; Ghent, 1814 .... 11 An American Politician: Baltimore, 1815 .... 26 Special Agent; Cartagena, 1816 31 III ASSIGNMENT TO S’-/EDEN.......................... 40 Sharing Authority with Jonathan Russell; 1816-18 40 In Charge at Last; 1819-22 ........... 69 Peripatetic Representation; 1823 89 Mission Accomplished; 1824-25 ................ 98 IV ASSIGNMENT TO THE NETHERLANDS .................. Ill Circuitous Route to a New Post; 1825-26 .... 114 A Journeyman Diplomat at Work: 1826-28 .... 124 Aspirations Dashed; 1828-30 .................. 140 V RETURN TO S^WEDEN................................ 156 Personal Tragedy; 1830-33 • 157 A Blunder: 1833-34 ...... I69 Comfortable Isolation; 1834-38 ........ 181 Unauthorized Initiative; 1838-39 18? Final Months at Stockholm; 1839-41 197 VI TWILIGHT OF A CAREER ............................ 204 Contriving a Transfer; 1841-42 . .......... 204 Enjoying Life In Europe: 1842-45 . 214 Retirement: 1845-49 .......................... 222 C o n c l u s i o n ............... 230 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................... 235 vl CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The diplomatic career of Christopher Hughes reveals much of the day-to-day practice of American diplomacy dur­ ing the first half of the nineteenth century. A craftsman rather than an artist, Hughes labored more than thirty years to safeguard and promote the interests of the United States in Europe. He never aspired to be a master of statecraft like John Quincy Adams or Henry Clay, but he took pride In his work as a journeyman. A diplomat by choice and by disposition, Hughes applied himself enthusi­ astically to the conduct of American foreign relations. In his successful application to the countless but Important details of diplomacy lies the significance of his career. Hughes began his career in 1814 as secretary to the American peace commission at Ghent and concluded It In 1845 as charge d'affaires at The Hague. Although he never attained the coveted rank of minister and although he never negotiated a treaty, he won goodwill for the United States through witty conversation and wide correspondence; he facilitated the settlement of claims and promoted the I growth of trade through the goodwill he had established; 1 and he gathered Important Information through, his agreeable manner and his interest in international problems. A well- bred gentleman, Hughes excelled in his role as eyes, ears, and tongue of his government. A study of the career of Hughes should deal with a number of important themes. There are matters of back­ ground influences, problems, and opportunities. These matters blend imperceptibly into questions of motivation such as why he chose the diplomatic profession, why he con­ tinued in it, and why he ultimately left it. In addition, an evaluation of Hughes should include some consideration of what was expected of him and how he fulfilled those expectations. An attempt will be made in this study to analyze these matters, discover answers to these questions, and evaluate the career of Hughes. Christopher Hughes was b o m on February 11, 1786, in Baltimore, Maryland.^ As he grew to manhood, so did his native city grow in economic importance in the nation. In 1780 Baltimore had a population of about 3,000, but a de­ cade later the inhabitants numbered 13,503» As fifth largest city in the country in 1790, Baltimore during the ensuing years kept pace with Boston, New York, and ^Christopher Hughes, senior, to Mrs. Jane O'Brien, 22 Oct 1801; Christopher Hughes, junior to Mrs. Peggy Moore, 11 Feb 1830; both in Hughes Papers, WLCL. Hughes to Francis P. Corbin, 7 Feb 1848, Corbin Papers, DUL. 2 Philadelphia, but surpassed Charleston. The startling rise in population resulted partly from the increasing sea­ borne trade. In 1790 Baltimore ranked fifth in the tonnage of vessels entering the port. Important exports were tobac­ co, corn, wheat, and flour.^ Besides commerce, Industry also helped to account for the rising population. By the time Hughes had reached adulthood, the workshops of the city were producing large quantities of iron and brass pro­ ducts, leather goods, carriages, sugar, paper, glass, a snuff, and cordage. Toward the close of 1?85 a young English merchant visited Baltimore and observed The houses are almost all built of brick, and a great many of them very handsome. It's astonishing what a stir there is in Baltimore. The shops are exceedingly neat and the goods set out to advantage. They are building away here in every corner of the town. Baltimore is now a very considerable place, but in the course of a few years, when these elegant houses are finished, it will be one of the first towns in America in point of beauty and superior to any in trade.^ 2 U.S. Bureau of the Census, A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth. 1790-1900 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1909) PpT 11, 13, 78-79. ^Ibid.. pp. 30-31. ^Compiled from Tench Coxe, A Statement of the Arts and Manufactures of the United States of America for the Year 1É10 (Philadelphia; A. Cornman, Junr., 181^). ■^Robert Hunter, Jr., Quebec to Carolina in 1785-1786. Being the Travel Diary and Observations of Robert Hunter.""^ L Ten years later Isaac Weld of Ireland visited the city and noted Baltimore is supposed to contain sixteen thousand inhabitants, and . is the largest town in Maryland, and the most considerable place of trade in North America, after Philadelphia and New York. The greater number of private houses . are of brick. The churches and places for public worship are ten in number. They have no less than three incorporated banks in this town. Amongst the inhabitants of Baltimore are to be found English, Irish, Scotch, and French. The Irish appear to be most numerous; and many of the principal merchants in town are in the number. With a few exceptions the inhabitants are all engaged in trade, which is closely attended to. Cards and dancing are favourite amusements. There are two theatres here, in which there are performances occasionally. Weld concluded that the rising prosperity of Baltimore was assured through easy access by water to the increasingly populous American hinterland.^ Christopher Hughes, senior, the father of the dip­ lomat left his native Ireland as a young man, migrated to the New World, end settled in Baltimore about I??!» After working at a trade for a time, he became a merchant and then, about 1?84, invested in real estate.