Amos Parker Wilder

Amos Parker Wilder (February 15, 1862 – July 2, 1936) was an American journalist and diplomat who served as United States Consul General to Hong Kong and Shanghai in the early 20th century.

Amos Parker Wilder
United States Consul General, Hong Kong
In office 1906–1909
Preceded by	Wilber T. Gracey
Succeeded by	George E. Anderson
United States Consul General, Shanghai
In office 1909–1914
Preceded by	Charles Denby Jr.
Succeeded by	Thomas Sammons
Personal details
Born	(1862-02-15)February 15, 1862 Calais, Maine, U.S.
Died	July 2, 1936(1936-07-02) (aged 74) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Children	Amos Wilder Thornton Wilder Charlotte Wilder Isabel Wilder Janet Wilder Dakin
Alma mater	Yale University (AB, PhD)

Early life and education

Wilder was born on September 10, 1861 in Calais, Maine,[1] the son of Amos Wilder and Charlotte P. Wilder.[2] He earned an A.B. and Ph.D from Yale University.

Career

From 1882 to 1892 he edited the New Haven Palladium, and from 1892 to 1894, worked as an editorial writer in New York City. In 1894, he moved to Wisconsin, where he purchased a one-half interest in the Wisconsin State Journal, and in 1901 acquired controlling interest.[1]

Wilder was a devout Congregationalist and served as a church deacon.[3] He was also and teetotaler and temperance advocate from his youth. He was in favor of women's suffrage.[4]

In 1906, Wilder was appointed United States Consul General in Hong Kong and in 1909 transferred to be United States Consul General in Shanghai, serving until 1914.[1]

In Shanghai, given his views on alcohol, he refused to help an American brewery enter the Chinese market on moral grounds stating he was willing to resign his position.[5]

After returning to the United States, Wilder spent the remainder of his life in the north east of the country, holding various important positions. From 1921 to 1929 was associate editor of the New Haven Journal Courier.[1] He was also head of the Yale-China Program.[2]

Family

Wilder with three of his children at the family cottage in Maple Bluff, Wisconsin (1900)

Wilder married Isabella Thornton Niven. They had six children: Amos Wilder, a theologist and poet; Thornton Wilder, a writer; Charlotte Wilder, a poet and professor of English; Isabel Wilder, a novelist; and Janet Wilder Dakin, an author and professor of biology.[6] A twin brother of Thornton Wilder died at birth.[7]

Death

Wilder died on July 2, 1936, in New Haven, Connecticut and was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hamden, Connecticut.[2]

References

1. "Wilder, Amos Parker 1862 – 1936 | Wisconsin Historical Society". wisconsinhistory.org. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
2. "Amos Parker Wilder (1862–1936)". Find A Grave Memorial. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
3. Thornton Wilder and the Puritan Narrative Tradition, p12
4. Wisconsin Literary Luminaries: From Laura Ingalls Wilder to Ayad Akhtar, p38
5. Wisconsin Literary Luminaries: From Laura Ingalls Wilder to Ayad Akhtar, p38
6. "The Wilder Family". Thornton Wilder. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
7. "Life & Family | Thornton Wilder Society". twildersociety.org. Retrieved September 14, 2019.

External links

• Photograph of Wilder with Wu Ting Fang
• Portrait of Wilder
• Wilder with his family circa 1906