John Welsh (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
John Welsh was an American
merchant
and minister to England
.
and English settlers in America. His father, also named John Welsh, moved from the state of Delaware
to Philadelphia in 1786, and soon became a prominent merchant in that city.
His father trained John and his brothers Samuel and William to mercantile life, and gradually introduced them to his business. John was the youngest, received a good preparatory education, including a classical course, but began the mercantile business, in which he was remarkably successful, at a very early age. He formed a partnership with his brothers, Samuel and William, and for more than half a century the firm of S. & W. Welsh, and later S. & J. Welsh, was among the leading commission houses in Philadelphia, and familiarly known all over the country.
In addition to the cares of his large business, Welsh became interested in public affairs and in the charitable institutions of his native city. During the last twenty-five years of his life he was an influential leader in all the great movements having for their object the promotion of the public good of his community. He was a vestryman in St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church forty-two years, and was treasurer of the fund of that denomination for the support of the episcopate. Taking a very active interest in founding the Episcopal hospital, he made himself responsible for the entire building fund amounting to $331,000, of which he personally contributed $41,000. He was one of the founders and became president of an association which raised a fund for the benefit of merchants who met with reverses in business.
In 1864 Mr. Welsh was chairman of the executive committee of the great sanitary fair held in Logan Square, Philadelphia, which raised $1,500,000 in money and supplies for the promotion of the health and comfort of soldiers and sailors in the United States Army
and Navy
. He distinguished himself as chairman of the board of finances of the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, which position he held from the time of the creation of the board by act of congress in 1873, until the adjustment of all the accounts in 1877. He comprehended its importance and possessed the insight to appreciate its moral and material significance. After the exhibition closed, the board of directors, in recognition of his services, voted him a gold medal, and a number of prominent persons presented him $50,000 as "a perpetual commemoration of the sincere gratitude of the citizens of Philadelphia." With this fund, he founded the John Welsh chair of history
and English literature
in the University of Pennsylvania
.
On October 30, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes
appointed Welsh minister to England, which he held until his resignation, August 31, 1879. He was instrumental in securing the release of a number of Fenian
prisoners. As the representative of the United States, he paid to the British government $5,500,000 awarded by the Halifax Fishery Commission.
Upon his return home, he passed the remainder of his life in retirement. For 20 years he was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and during that period contributed $80,000 to its endowment fund. He also gave $10,000 to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. He was made Knight-Commander of the Order of St. Olaf by the king of Sweden
, and Commander of the Order of the Rising Sun
by the Emperor of Japan
, and Grand Officer of the Order of Nizan Iftakan
by the bey
of Tunis
. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1878, and by Washington and Lee University
in 1880. He died in Philadelphia April 19, 1886.
, was prominent as a civil service reformer and Indian rights activist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
and minister to England
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
The office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
.
Biography
His ancestors were among the early SwedishSwedish emigration to the United States
During the Swedish emigration to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, about 1.3 million Swedes left Sweden for the United States...
and English settlers in America. His father, also named John Welsh, moved from the state of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
to Philadelphia in 1786, and soon became a prominent merchant in that city.
His father trained John and his brothers Samuel and William to mercantile life, and gradually introduced them to his business. John was the youngest, received a good preparatory education, including a classical course, but began the mercantile business, in which he was remarkably successful, at a very early age. He formed a partnership with his brothers, Samuel and William, and for more than half a century the firm of S. & W. Welsh, and later S. & J. Welsh, was among the leading commission houses in Philadelphia, and familiarly known all over the country.
In addition to the cares of his large business, Welsh became interested in public affairs and in the charitable institutions of his native city. During the last twenty-five years of his life he was an influential leader in all the great movements having for their object the promotion of the public good of his community. He was a vestryman in St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church forty-two years, and was treasurer of the fund of that denomination for the support of the episcopate. Taking a very active interest in founding the Episcopal hospital, he made himself responsible for the entire building fund amounting to $331,000, of which he personally contributed $41,000. He was one of the founders and became president of an association which raised a fund for the benefit of merchants who met with reverses in business.
In 1864 Mr. Welsh was chairman of the executive committee of the great sanitary fair held in Logan Square, Philadelphia, which raised $1,500,000 in money and supplies for the promotion of the health and comfort of soldiers and sailors in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He distinguished himself as chairman of the board of finances of the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, which position he held from the time of the creation of the board by act of congress in 1873, until the adjustment of all the accounts in 1877. He comprehended its importance and possessed the insight to appreciate its moral and material significance. After the exhibition closed, the board of directors, in recognition of his services, voted him a gold medal, and a number of prominent persons presented him $50,000 as "a perpetual commemoration of the sincere gratitude of the citizens of Philadelphia." With this fund, he founded the John Welsh chair of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
in the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
On October 30, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
appointed Welsh minister to England, which he held until his resignation, August 31, 1879. He was instrumental in securing the release of a number of Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
prisoners. As the representative of the United States, he paid to the British government $5,500,000 awarded by the Halifax Fishery Commission.
Upon his return home, he passed the remainder of his life in retirement. For 20 years he was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and during that period contributed $80,000 to its endowment fund. He also gave $10,000 to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. He was made Knight-Commander of the Order of St. Olaf by the king of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and Commander of the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
by the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
, and Grand Officer of the Order of Nizan Iftakan
Nichan Iftikhar
Nichan Iftikhar or Atiq Nishan-i-Iftikhar or Nişan-i İftihar , was an Ottoman and Tunisian honorary order founded in 1835 by Al-Mustafa ibn Mahmud...
by the bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
of Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1878, and by Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in 1880. He died in Philadelphia April 19, 1886.
Family
His son, Herbert WelshHerbert Welsh
Herbert Welsh was a United States political reformer and worker for Indian welfare.-Biography:He was born in Philadelphia, the son of John Welsh, a prosperous merchant...
, was prominent as a civil service reformer and Indian rights activist.