Thomas Westbrook Waldron (consul)

Thomas Westbrook Waldron

Wreath laying at Waldron's grave

Wreath laying at Waldron's grave[1]
Born (1814-05-01)May 1, 1814
Died September 18, 1844(1844-09-18) (aged 30)
Macau
Occupation Captain's clerk, U.S. Navy; U.S. Consul to Hong Kong, naval store keeper to the US East India Squadron[2]
Spouse(s) none
Children none
Parent(s) Daniel Waldron and Olive Sheafe
Secretary of State honours Consul Thomas Westbrook Waldron and others

Thomas Westbrook Waldron was a captain's clerk[3] on the Wilkes Expedition, and the first United States consul to Hong Kong.[4] His service to the United States consular service was honoured by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during a ceremony in 2009.[5]

Family

The youngest of eight children of Daniel Waldron and Olive Huske Sheafe Waldron of Dover, New Hampshire, and named after his grandfather, he was born May 1, 1814.[6] An older cousin of the same name had moved away prior to his birth and the name was re-used.

Wilkes Expedition

With his oldest brother Richard Russell Waldron he joined the Wilkes Expedition which explored a portion of the coast of Antarctica, some of the Pacific islands, and the coast of what is now Washington state. Waldron Glacier in the Antarctic is named after him. Waldron Island is named after him or his brother.[7]

U.S. Consul to Hong Kong and Macau

For reasons that are not presently very clear, in December 1843 he was nominated by President John Tyler to the office of United States consul to Hong Kong.[8] He travelled to neighbouring Macau on official business,[4] where he died September 18, 1844[6] after contracting cholera.[5] He is buried in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau.[9][10]

2009 Ceremony

On May 1, 2009, as part of a ceremony honouring several diplomats who were deceased during their duty, he was honoured by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.[5] A second ceremony occurred the same month at his burial site.[4]

Landmarks

Waldron Glacier and possibly Waldron Island are named after him.

References

  1. 1 2 Wreath laying http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/130742.pdf
  2. ↑ Gravestone, "Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau" accessed 21 November 2010
  3. ↑ "Evening Journal", "Exploring Expedition", 13 June 1842, accessed 30 May 2014
  4. 1 2 3 "Ceremony Recalls Fallen Diplomats" In: State Magazine (Oct 2009), p.8, At: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/130742.pdf accessed 5 September 2010
  5. 1 2 3 "American Foreign Service Association's Memorial Plaque Ceremony" Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, C Street Lobby, Washington, DC, May 1, 2009 at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/05/122565.htm
  6. 1 2 C.H. Cutts Howard, Genealogy of the Cutts Family of America, (1892), entry 1390, p.123 at https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofcutts00howa#page/122/mode/2up/search/hong+kong accessed 22 August 2010
  7. ↑ ‘was probably intended for Thomas W. Waldron, Captain’s Clerk of the brig Porpoise of the expedition. However, it is possible that two men were honoured in the one name as R. R. Waldron was Purser of the Vincennes, another vessel of the expedition.’ (Meany, E. S. (1923)). Origin of Washington Geographic Names, University of Washington Press, Seattle. as cited in Patrick J. M. Waldron, "Waldron Family History", June 30, 2009, pp.5, 8 at: http://www.binary.co.nz/WALDRON3.PDF accessed 5 September 2010
  8. ↑ United States. Congress. Senate Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United ..., Volume 6 accessed 21 November 2010
  9. ↑ Speeches and Articles by Former Consul General Joseph R. Donovan Jr. Macau-U.S. Relations--A Retrospective --Joseph R. Donovan Jr Consul General of the United States of America For the University of Macau's Distinguished Diplomatic & Consular Speakers' Series Thursday, May 14, 2009 After Signing Ceremony of Renewal of the UMac-USCG Letter of Understanding on the American Corner at the UMac Library At: http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/cg_jd2009051401.html accessed 6 September 2010
  10. ↑ Sir Lindsay Ride, May Ride, Bernard Mellor, An East India company cemetery: protestant burials in Macao,pp.55, 156, 303. at: http://books.google.ca/books?id=flbXWNoVraEC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=thomas+waldron+cemetery+hong+kong&source=bl&ots=At4DRrrDe9&sig=kEmjcPF3GCcry6dU-r_8wjckPQY&hl=en&ei=XWyFTJjEEZK4sAPUjaG0AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false accessed 6 September 2010
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