Chiefs of Mission -- China
(source: U.S. Dept. of State)
Name: Edward Everett
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Mar 3, 1843
Note: Commissioned to China. Declined appointment.
Name: Caleb Cushing
State of Residency: Massachusetts
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary ∧ Commissioner
Appointment: May 8, 1843
Presentation of Credentials: [about Jun 12, 1844]
Termination of Mission: Left Macao, Aug 27, 1844
Note: Commissioned to China. Was issued two separate commissions during a recess of the Senate, one as Commissioner and one as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary; after confirmation on Jun 17, 1844, recommissioned as Commissioner only. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorieies, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter of credence.
Name: Alexander H. Everett
State of Residency: Massachusetts
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Mar 13, 1845
Presentation of Credentials: [Oct 26, 1846]
Termination of Mission: Died at post, Jun 28, 1847
Note: Commissioned to China. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorieies, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter of credence. Nominated Feb 26, 1845, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary; the Senate did not confirm this nomination.
Name: John W. Davis
State of Residency: Indiana
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Jan 3, 1848
Presentation of Credentials: [Oct 6, 1848]
Termination of Mission: Left post, May 25, 1850
Note: Commissioned to China. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorities, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter or credence.
Note: Peter Parker served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, May 1850-Jul 1853.
Name: Joseph Blunt
State of Residency: New York
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Oct 15, 1851
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Commissioned to China. Declined appointment.
Name: Humphrey Marshall
State of Residency: Kentucky
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Aug 4, 1852
Presentation of Credentials: [Jul 4, 1853]
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jan 27, 1854
Note: Commissioned to China. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorities, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter or credence.
Name: Robert J. Walker
State of Residency: Mississippi
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Jun 21, 1853
Note: Commissioned during recess of the Senate. Commissioned to China. Declined appointment.
Name: Robert M. McLane
State of Residency: Maryland
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Oct 18, 1853
Presentation of Credentials: [Nov 3, 1854]
Termination of Mission: Left post, Dec 12, 1854
Note:Commissioned during recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 6, 1853. Commissioned to China. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorities, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter or credence.
Name: Peter Parker
State of Residency: Massachusetts
Title: Commissioner
Appointment: Aug 16, 1855
Presentation of Credentials: [Jul 15, 1856]
Termination of Mission: Left China Aug 25, 1857
Note: Commissioned during a recess of Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on May 26, 1856. Commissioned to China. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorities, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter or credence.
Name: William B. Reed
State of Residency: Pennsylvania
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Apr 18, 1857
Presentation of Credentials: [May 3, 1858]
Termination of Mission: Left China, Nov 11, 1858
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 14, 1858. Commissioned to China. Presentation of credentials to the Chief of State upon arrival did not become the normal procedure for U.S. diplomatic representatives in China until 1898. The date in brackets represents establishment of an official relationship with appropriate Chinese authorities, not necessarily including communication to them of a letter or credence.
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