Albert S. Willis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador toHawaii | |
| In office November 7, 1893 – January 6, 1897 | |
| President | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | James Henderson Blount |
| Succeeded by | Harold M. Sewall |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Watterson |
| Succeeded by | Asher G. Caruth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1843-01-22)January 22, 1843 Shelbyville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 1897(1897-01-06) (aged 53) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cave Hill Cemetery Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Louisville School of Law |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Albert Shelby Willis (January 22, 1843 – January 6, 1897) was aUnited States Representative fromKentucky and aMinister to Hawaii.
Born inShelbyville, Kentucky, Willis attended thecommon schools and graduated from theLouisville Male High School in 1860. He taught school for four years before graduating from theUniversity of Louisville School of Law in 1866. He wasadmitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Louisville. He served asprosecuting attorney forJefferson County from 1874 to 1877.
Willis was elected as aDemocrat to theForty-fifth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1887). He served as chairman of theCommittee on Rivers and Harbors during theForty-eighth andForty-ninth Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1886.
He resumed the practice of law before being appointed Minister toHawaii by PresidentGrover Cleveland in 1893. Willis was sent to Hawaii on a secret mission to meet with deposedQueen Liliʻuokalani and obtain a promise of amnesty for those involved in theoverthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii if Cleveland restored her to the throne. Willis reported to the Secretary of State in Washington that she was intent on killing the culprits. There was a dispute: Willis said the Queen said "beheading"; she later said she used "execute."[1][2][3]
Finally, the Queen reversed herself and told Willis she could issue an amnesty. On December 18, 1893, Willis demanded on behalf of Cleveland to dissolve theProvisional Government of Hawaii and restore the Queen to power. Willis' mission was a failure whenSanford B. Dole sent a written reply declining the surrender of his authority to the deposed queen. President Cleveland then referred the matter to Congress, which commissioned theMorgan Report, which exonerated the U.S. minister and peacekeepers from taking any part in the Hawaiian Revolution. Following the Morgan Report, Cleveland reversed his stance, rebuffed the queen's further pleas for interference, and maintained normal diplomatic relations with both the Provisional Government and its successor theRepublic of Hawaii.[4]
Willis served as Minister to Hawaii until his death inHonolulu on January 6, 1897. An elaborate state funeral was held for him in theʻIolani Palace (temporarily renamed the Executive Building).[5] He was interred inCave Hill Cemetery,Louisville, Kentucky.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
Media related toAlbert S. Willis at Wikimedia Commons
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's 5th congressional district March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1887 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Minister to Hawaii 1893–1897 | Succeeded by |
| Public Buildings and Grounds (1837–1947) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Harbors (1883–1947) | ||
| Roads (1913–1947) | ||
| Flood Control (1916–1947) | ||
| Transportation and Infrastructure* (1947–) | ||
| Note | * Alternately namedPublic Works in 80th through 93rd Congresses andPublic Works and Transportation in 94th through 103rd Congresses. | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
