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[[File:Edwin Hurd Conger, 1843-1907.jpg|thumb|right|Edwin H. Conger]] |
[[File:Edwin Hurd Conger, 1843-1907.jpg|thumb|right|Edwin H. Conger]] |
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| − | '''Edwin Hurd Conger''' (March 7, 1843 – May 18, 1907) was an American [[American Civil War|Civil War]] soldier, lawyer, banker, Iowa congressman, and United States diplomat. As the |
+ | '''Edwin Hurd Conger''' (March 7, 1843 – May 18, 1907) was an American [[American Civil War|Civil War]] soldier, lawyer, banker, Iowa congressman, and United States diplomat. As the United States' minister to China during the [[Boxer Rebellion]], Conger, his family, and other western diplomatic legations were under siege in Beijing until rescued by the [[China Relief Expedition]]. |
==Personal background and war service== |
==Personal background and war service== |
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In September 1890, less than two months before the general election, Conger resigned his Congressional seat and abandoned his re-election campaign, in order to accept appointment by President [[Benjamin Harrison]] as [[United States Ambassador to Brazil|U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Brazil]] (a post that today would be called the United States Ambassador). He served until September 1893, when he was replaced by an appointee of incoming Democratic President [[Grover Cleveland]]. He returned to that position in 1897 following the election of the next Republican president, [[William McKinley]], serving from August 9, 1897 to February 6, 1898. |
In September 1890, less than two months before the general election, Conger resigned his Congressional seat and abandoned his re-election campaign, in order to accept appointment by President [[Benjamin Harrison]] as [[United States Ambassador to Brazil|U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Brazil]] (a post that today would be called the United States Ambassador). He served until September 1893, when he was replaced by an appointee of incoming Democratic President [[Grover Cleveland]]. He returned to that position in 1897 following the election of the next Republican president, [[William McKinley]], serving from August 9, 1897 to February 6, 1898. |
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| − | In 1898, President McKinley appointed Conger as |
+ | In 1898, President McKinley appointed Conger as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China, where he served as the United States' ambassador to the [[Great Qing Empire]]. McKinley had initially nominated [[Charles Page Bryan]] for the China post, but when Bryan's lack of relevant experience prompted objections in Congress, McKinley chose Conger for China and nominated Bryan for Conger's former position in Brazil.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A02E0DD143CE433A25750C1A9679C94699ED7CF Federal Offices Filled]," New York Times, 1898-01-13 at p. 3.</ref> Conger's arrival in China in July 1898 coincided with the emergence of a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement, the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists in China (known as "Boxers" in English). In June 1900, Boxer fighters gathered in Beijing to besiege the foreign embassies, in what became known outside of China as the [[Boxer Rebellion]]. Sensationalist American newspapers initially reported, in screaming headlines, that Conger was "undoubtedly dead," together with all other foreigners in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Americans in Peking Massacred - Minister Conger Among the Slain|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1900-06-21/ed-1/seq-1/|publisher=The New York Evening World,|accessdate=2010-07-09|pages=1}}</ref> Americans and other westerners retreated to the [[Beijing Legation Quarter]], where they were under siege for fifty-five days (see. [[Siege of the International Legations]]) until the [[Eight-Nation Alliance]] brought 20,000 troops to their rescue. After receiving a heroes' welcome on return to the United States in 1901,<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C05E4DD1139E733A25751C0A9639C946097D6CF Mr. Conger in Iowa]," New York Times, 1901-05-02 at p. 9.</ref> Conger resumed his duties in China for several more years, serving until 1905. His wife became a friend of [[Empress Dowager Cixi|Cixi]], the Empress Dowager, and an outspoken critic of Western encroachments on Chinese sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.<ref>Thompson, 218-219.</ref> |
| − | In 1905, Conger was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as |
+ | In 1905, Conger was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Ambassador to Mexico. His service in that position was brief; it began on June 15 and ended on August 3, 1905, when President Roosevelt chose Conger for a different post. Roosevelt appointed him to perform a special mission to China made necessary when the United States' interpretation of the [[Chinese Exclusion Act]], and failure to build the [[Hankow]] railroad, prompted a boycott of American goods in China.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=940CE6D7173DE733A2575BC1A96E9C946497D6CF Conger to go to China: Effort to End Boycott]," New York Times, 1905-08-18 at p. 1.</ref> However, a week later, Conger declined the appointment, and resigned his appointment in Mexico effective two months later.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C07E2DD1F3DE633A25750C2A96E9C946497D6CF Ambassador Conger Quits]," New York Times, 1905-08-23 at p. 1.</ref> |
He died in Pasadena, California on May 18, 1907, and was interred in Mountain View Cemetery in [[Altadena, California]]. His death was attributed to a disease contracted in China.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E07E3DC133EE033A2575AC1A9639C946697D6CF Ex-Minister Conger Dead]," New York Times, 1907-05-19 at p. 7.</ref> |
He died in Pasadena, California on May 18, 1907, and was interred in Mountain View Cemetery in [[Altadena, California]]. His death was attributed to a disease contracted in China.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E07E3DC133EE033A2575AC1A9639C946697D6CF Ex-Minister Conger Dead]," New York Times, 1907-05-19 at p. 7.</ref> |
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{{Succession box |
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| − | | title= |
+ | | title=United States Ambassador to China |
| before=[[Charles Harvey Denby|Charles H. Denby]] |
| before=[[Charles Harvey Denby|Charles H. Denby]] |
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| after=[[William Woodville Rockhill|William W. Rockhill]] |
| after=[[William Woodville Rockhill|William W. Rockhill]] |
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| − | | title= |
+ | | title=United States Ambassador to Mexico |
| before=[[Powell Clayton]] |
| before=[[Powell Clayton]] |
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| after=[[David Eugene Thompson|David E. Thompson]] |
| after=[[David Eugene Thompson|David E. Thompson]] |
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Revision as of 23:17, 24 October 2015
Edwin H. Conger
Edwin Hurd Conger (March 7, 1843 – May 18, 1907) was an American Civil War soldier, lawyer, banker, Iowa congressman, and United States diplomat. As the United States' minister to China during the Boxer Rebellion, Conger, his family, and other western diplomatic legations were under siege in Beijing until rescued by the China Relief Expedition.
Personal background and war service
Born in Knox County, Illinois, Conger graduated from Lombard College in 1862. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a private in Company I of the 102nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to captain and brevetted major.
At the close of the war, he studied law. He graduated from Albany Law School in 1866 and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in Galesburg, Illinois. Conger moved to Dexter, Iowa, in south-central Iowa, in 1868 and engaged in banking, livestock, and agricultural pursuits. Conger was married to Sarah Pike, also from Iowa, an author, a Christian Scientist, and a leader of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union who accompanied him to China, and would be later known for befriending China's Empress Dowager Cixi.[1]
Political activity
After winning two terms as treasurer of Dallas County, Iowa in 1877 and 1879, he was elected Iowa State Treasurer in 1880, and reelected in 1882.
In 1884, the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative of Iowa's 7th congressional district, John A. Kasson, declined to seek re-election. Conger won the Republican nomination to succeed him, and the general election (although Kasson's early resignation to accept an ambassadorship, and the election of Hiram Y. Smith to serve out Kasson's term, caused Conger to succeed Smith instead). Conger was re-elected twice (in 1886 and 1888). In Congress, he served as chairman of the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures from 1889 to 1890. In 1890, he entered the race for a fourth term in Congress.
Foreign service
Conger (on left) and staff in the American legation, Beijing, circa 1901
Conger and family in foreground, with 9th Infantry Regiment lined up before the Meridian Gate, Forbidden City, Beijing, circa 1901
In September 1890, less than two months before the general election, Conger resigned his Congressional seat and abandoned his re-election campaign, in order to accept appointment by President Benjamin Harrison as U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Brazil (a post that today would be called the United States Ambassador). He served until September 1893, when he was replaced by an appointee of incoming Democratic President Grover Cleveland. He returned to that position in 1897 following the election of the next Republican president, William McKinley, serving from August 9, 1897 to February 6, 1898.
In 1898, President McKinley appointed Conger as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China, where he served as the United States' ambassador to the Great Qing Empire. McKinley had initially nominated Charles Page Bryan for the China post, but when Bryan's lack of relevant experience prompted objections in Congress, McKinley chose Conger for China and nominated Bryan for Conger's former position in Brazil.[2] Conger's arrival in China in July 1898 coincided with the emergence of a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement, the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists in China (known as "Boxers" in English). In June 1900, Boxer fighters gathered in Beijing to besiege the foreign embassies, in what became known outside of China as the Boxer Rebellion. Sensationalist American newspapers initially reported, in screaming headlines, that Conger was "undoubtedly dead," together with all other foreigners in Beijing.[3] Americans and other westerners retreated to the Beijing Legation Quarter, where they were under siege for fifty-five days (see. Siege of the International Legations) until the Eight-Nation Alliance brought 20,000 troops to their rescue. After receiving a heroes' welcome on return to the United States in 1901,[4] Conger resumed his duties in China for several more years, serving until 1905. His wife became a friend of Cixi, the Empress Dowager, and an outspoken critic of Western encroachments on Chinese sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.[5]
In 1905, Conger was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Ambassador to Mexico. His service in that position was brief; it began on June 15 and ended on August 3, 1905, when President Roosevelt chose Conger for a different post. Roosevelt appointed him to perform a special mission to China made necessary when the United States' interpretation of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and failure to build the Hankow railroad, prompted a boycott of American goods in China.[6] However, a week later, Conger declined the appointment, and resigned his appointment in Mexico effective two months later.[7]
He died in Pasadena, California on May 18, 1907, and was interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, California. His death was attributed to a disease contracted in China.[8]
References
- ↑ Thompson, Larry Clinton, William Scott Ament and the Boxer Rebellion. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2009, 29, 218.
- ↑ "Federal Offices Filled," New York Times, 1898-01-13 at p. 3.
- ↑ "Americans in Peking Massacred - Minister Conger Among the Slain". The New York Evening World,. pp. 1. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1900-06-21/ed-1/seq-1/. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ↑ "Mr. Conger in Iowa," New York Times, 1901-05-02 at p. 9.
- ↑ Thompson, 218-219.
- ↑ "Conger to go to China: Effort to End Boycott," New York Times, 1905-08-18 at p. 1.
- ↑ "Ambassador Conger Quits," New York Times, 1905-08-23 at p. 1.
- ↑ "Ex-Minister Conger Dead," New York Times, 1907-05-19 at p. 7.
External links
- Edwin H. Conger at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-14
- "Edwin H. Conger". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7406955. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
Template:US Ambassadors to the PRC
The original article can be found at Edwin H. Conger and the edit history here.