United States Minister to Hawaii

Last updated
Minister of the United States to Hawaii
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
None
NominatorThe President of the United States
Inaugural holder John Coffin Jones Jr.
as Agent for Commerce and Seamen
Formation1820
AbolishedAugust 12, 1898

The United States Minister to Hawaii was an office of the United States Department of State to the Kingdom of Hawaii during the period of 1810 to 1898. Appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of Congress, the Minister to Hawaii was equivalent in rank to the present-day ambassador of the United States to foreign governments. As principal envoy of the United States government to the monarch of Hawaii, the Minister to Hawaii often dealt in affairs relating to economic, military and political matters affecting both nations. The Minister to Hawaii also represented the interests of American citizens residing and working in Hawaii, conveying their concerns over United States foreign policy to the President of the United States.

Contents

Two Ministers to Hawaii became paramount figures in the history of Hawaiian Islands. John L. Stevens, appointed by President Benjamin Harrison, was accused of being a conspirator in the overthrow of the monarchy of Queen Liliʻuokalani. James Henderson Blount, appointed by President Grover Cleveland, investigated the overthrow, submitting a report on July 17, 1893, resulting in the dismissal of Stevens from his foreign service career and the recommendation by Cleveland to restore the monarchy. Following Blount's report, and the refusal of the Provisional Government to abide by Cleveland's wishes, a Senate committee appointed by Cleveland to further investigate the matter exonerated Stevens and the U.S. peacekeepers from any role in the Hawaiian Revolution, submitting the Morgan Report on February 26, 1894. Following that final investigation on the matter, Cleveland rebuffed further requests from the queen for interference and engaged in normal diplomatic relations with both the Provisional Government and the Republic of Hawaii.

Agents and Consuls

The first representatives were given the unpaid title of Agent for Commerce and Seamen and in 1844 given the title of Consul. There are gaps and overlaps in the dates due to the six-month journey from the eastern United States to Hawaii at the time. [1]

In 1850 Charles Bunker was added as a consul in Lahaina. [3]

Commissioners

In 1843 the diplomatic representative was called Commissioner. [1]

List of Ministers

This is a list of American Ministers (replacing the rank of Commissioner, similar to current rank of Ambassador) to the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1893.

John L. Stevens, United States Minister to Hawaii, ordered the landing of the United States Marine Corps on O`ahu which has been subjected to competing historical interpretations. Johnlstevens.jpg
John L. Stevens, United States Minister to Hawaii, ordered the landing of the United States Marine Corps on Oʻahu which has been subjected to competing historical interpretations.

See also

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John L. Stevens American politician

John Leavitt Stevens was the United States Minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 when he was accused of conspiring to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani in association with the Committee of Safety, led by Lorrin A. Thurston and Sanford B. Dole – the first Americans attempting to overthrow a foreign government under the auspices of a United States government officer. John L. Stevens, journalist, author, minister, newspaper publisher and diplomat, was also a Maine State Senator who was a founder of the Republican Party in Maine.

Provisional Government of Hawaii

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Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom 1893 government overthrow

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Blount Report

The Blount Report is the popular name given to the part of the 1893 United States House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee Report regarding the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The report was conducted by U.S. Commissioner James H. Blount, appointed by U.S. President Grover Cleveland to investigate the events surrounding the January 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Hawaiian Kingdom–United States relations Diplomatic relations between the Hawaiian Kingdom and the United States of America

Hawaiian Kingdom–United States relations refers to the historical relationship between the independent Hawaiian Kingdom and the United States. Relations included several treaties and exchanges of trade and diplomatic representatives from 1820 to 1893.

Hawaiian rebellions (1887–1895)

The Hawaiian rebellions and revolutions took place in Hawaii between 1887 and 1895. Until annexation in 1898, Hawaii was an independent sovereign state, recognized by the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany with exchange of ambassadors. However, there were several challenges to the reigning governments of the Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii during the ​8 1⁄2-year (1887–1895) period.

Ladd & Company was an early business partnership in the Kingdom of Hawaii. Its founders were William Ladd (1807–1863), Peter Allen Brinsmade (1804–1859), and William Northey Hooper (1809–1878). The company was behind the first commercial sugarcane plantation and first international land speculation in the Hawaiian Islands.

References

  1. 1 2 Rhoda E. A. Hackler (2008). ""Earnest Persuasion but Not Peremptory Demand:" United States Government Policy toward the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, 1820–1863". Hawaiian Journal of History. Hawaiian Historical Society. 42: 49–67. hdl:10524/342.
  2. ↑ Richard A. Greer (1995). "A. G. Abell's Hawaiian Interlude". Hawaiian Journal of History. Hawaiian Historical Society. 29: 57–74. hdl:10524/441.
  3. ↑ Peter von Buol (2006). "Abner Pratt and Michigan's Honolulu House". Prologue. 38 (4). U.S. National Archives. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
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