John Trumbull Van Alen

John Trumbull Van Alen (d. August 27, 1857) was an American merchant and diplomat who served as the American Chargé d'affaires to Ecuador from June 5, 1849 to August 1850.[1]

John Trumbull Van Alen
Chargé d'Affaires to Ecuador
In office
June 5, 1849 – August 1850
PresidentZachary Taylor
Preceded byVan Brugh Livingston
Succeeded byCourtland Cushing
Personal details
DiedAugust 27, 1857
Poughkeepsie, New York

Biography

Colonel Van Alen, a native of New York who worked as a merchant,[2] was appointed by President Zachary Taylor to succeed fellow New Yorker, Van Brugh Livingston,[3] as the Chargé d'Affaires to Ecuador in Quito,[4] in a recess appointment, on June 5, 1849.[5] Van Alen had helped Taylor get elected to the presidency and "enjoyed a greater degree of the old veteran's confidence and affection than almost any other person not of his immediate kindred."[6]

He presented his credentials on November 19, 1849,[7] Van Alen, who was known as "callow and impulsive," reportedly "lacked experience in diplomacy and knowledge of Ecuadorian politics," and "decided that Ecuador could be rescued from ruin only by General Flores," the former president of Ecuador.[8] He wrote to Washington advising them that Flores was popular and had been "unjustly ousted by a small clique of opportunists."[9] While in Ecuador, he was able to negotiate a treaty regarding the brig Morris which was captured and sold by the authorities of Colombia.[10]

Van Alen's last dispatch at his post was on July 18, 1850,[11] before he resigned in October 1850 due to illness.[5] Van Alen was recommissioned on August 10, 1850, after confirmation, but did not serve under his second appointment. Eventually he was succeeded by Courtland Cusing of Indiana who was commissioned on September 28, 1850.[11]

After his retirement from the diplomatic services, he spent several years abroad, mostly in England.[6]

Upon his return to the United States, he purchased a country estate near Poughkeepsie, New York, where he died on August 27, 1857.[6]

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See also

References
  1. Werner, Edgar A. (1883). The New-York Civil List: Containing the Names and Origin of the Civil Divisions, and the Names and Dates of Election Or Appointment of the Principal State and County Officers ... Albany, NY: Weed, Parsons & Co. p. 487. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. State, Indiana Office of Agent of (1848). Report of the Agent of State. Office of Agent of State. p. 66. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  3. Senate, United States Congress (1887). Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States. p. 110. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  4. Allen, Debra J. (2012). Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy from the Revolution to Secession. Scarecrow Press. p. 306. ISBN 9780810878952. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  5. Hilen, Andrew (1972). The Letters of Henry Wadsworth Logfellow, Vol. III (1844-1856). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 204. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. Annual Obituary Notices of Eminent Persons who Have Died in the United States: For 1857-[1858]. Phillips, Sampson. 1858. p. 369. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  7. "John Trumbull Van Alen - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  8. Van Aken, Mark J. (1989). King of the Night: Juan José Flores and Ecuador, 1824-1864. University of California Press. p. 240. ISBN 9780520062771. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  9. Pineo, Ronn F. (2010). Ecuador and the United States: Useful Strangers. University of Georgia Press. p. 34. ISBN 9780820337265. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  10. Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949. U.S. Department of State. 1968. pp. 310–311. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  11. The Biographic Register. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1874. p. 71. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by
Van Brugh Livingston		 U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, Ecuador
1849–1850		 Succeeded by
Courtland Cushing
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