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William Shaler (1773 – March 29, 1833) was an American writer, ethnographer, diplomat and confidential agent, assigned toAlgiers,Mexico andCuba.
William Shaler was born inBridgeport, Connecticut, in 1773.[1] His mother, Sibbel Warner Shaler, died when he was eight years old, and his father Timothy, a veteran of theAmerican Revolutionary War, died when William was 12. The trustee of Timothy Shaler'sestate either embezzled or mismanaged it, leaving William, two brothers and a sister to fend for themselves.[2] The Shaler Family was of English descent, with origins fromWarwickshire, England.[3]
Shaler was apprenticed to Phoenix, Ingraham & Nixen, aNew York City mercantile firm, where he learnedbookkeeping and other business skills. He then became a commercial agent for the firm, sailing toFrance and back to oversee the acquisition and shipment of goods for sale in theUnited States. Shaler learned to speakFrench, and commenced a period of dedicated self-study designed to make up for his lack of formal education.[4]
Shaler subsequently worked as asea captain, commanding trading vessels that sailed around the world. In 1803 he was Captain of theLeila Bird when his crew and he were forced to fight their way out ofSan Diego Bay during an extended Pacific voyage because of a dispute with the local Spanish governor. This was one of the first visits toCalifornia by an American. Shaler's subsequent written description was widely circulated and led to increased American travel to and trade with California.[5]
In 1810 Shaler, a friend ofSecretary of StateRobert Smith, was appointed by United States PresidentJames Madison as a confidential agent. He was supposed to go to Mexico and observe activities inVeracruz during an effort by Mexicans to overthrow the Spanish government. Attempting to reach Mexico by way of Cuba, Shaler was accused of collaborating with opponents of theSpanish government inHavana and was detained.[6] In 1811 he made his way to theTerritory of Orleans, where he made contact withBernardo Gutiérrez de Lara. Shaler advised Guttierez while he recruited an army to fight the Spanish in Mexico. Shaler traveled intoTexas with Guttierez during the 1812-13Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition and was with him when he proclaimed Texas independent.[7]
During negotiations to end theWar of 1812, which culminated in theTreaty of Ghent, Shaler was appointed Secretary to the U.S. peace delegation. His efforts were considered to be ineffective, largely because he formed friendships withJonathan Russell andHenry Clay, which madeJohn Quincy Adams distrustful.[2]
From 1815 to 1828 Shaler served as U.S. Consul in Algiers.[8] Early in his assignment he took part withWilliam Bainbridge andStephen Decatur in a peace mission to end theSecond Barbary War.[9]
In 1825 Shaler was elected a member of theAmerican Philosophical Society. In 1828 he received an honorarymaster's degree from theCollege of New Jersey.[10]
Shaler was appointed U.S. Consul in Havana in 1829, where he served until dying in acholera epidemic on March 29, 1833. According to published accounts, this epidemic resulted in more than 14,000 deaths. According to Shaler's friend and Vice-Consul, Richard J. Cleveland, so many people were dying so quickly that Cuban authorities abandoned the usual procedures for funerals and interments, opting for mass burials. Cleveland was able to intercede, claiming Shaler's remains and having them interred with an appropriate gravestone in the English Cemetery (also called Foreigners Cemetery or Protestant Cemetery) at La Chorrera, which was then a few miles east of Havana, but is now a neighborhood of the city.[11][12][13][14][15][16] William Shaler was never married and had no children.[17]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New position | United States Agent inMexico 1810–1812 | Succeeded by John H. Robinson |
| Preceded by New position | United States Consul inAlgiers 1815–1828 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Consul inHavana 1830–1833 | Succeeded by |
