Caleb Whitefoord facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caleb Whitefoord
FRS FRSE
|
|
|---|---|
Caleb Whitefoord, by Sir Joshua Reynolds
|
|
| Born | 1734 Edinburgh, Scotland
|
| Died | 25 January 1810 Argyll Street, London, England
|
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Citizenship | Great Britain |
| Alma mater | Edinburgh University |
|
Notable work
|
Secretary to the commission which concluded peace between Great Britain and the United States at Paris, 1782 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Sidday |
Caleb Whitefoord FRS FRSE FRSA (1734 – 25 January 1810) was a clever Scottish man. He worked as a merchant, a diplomat, and a writer of funny political stories. He is best known for helping to make peace between Great Britain and the United States after the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
Caleb Whitefoord's Life
Caleb Whitefoord was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1734. He was the son of Colonel Charles Whitefoord, a military officer. Caleb grew up in Edinburgh and went to James Mundell's School before studying at Edinburgh University.
Moving to London and Business
After his education, Caleb moved to London, England. In 1756, he started his own business as a wine merchant. This job helped him become well-known and connect with important people.
A Role in Peacemaking
In 1782, Caleb Whitefoord took on a very important role. He became an envoy, or special messenger, for Lord Shelburne. Lord Shelburne was a key British leader. Caleb's job was to work with Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Franklin was a famous American leader.
They were part of the Peace Commission. This group worked to end the American Revolutionary War. They wanted to make peace between Great Britain and the newly formed United States.
On November 30, 1782, Caleb Whitefoord had an interesting conversation. He was meeting with Franklin and a French delegate. The Frenchman talked about how big America would become. He said the thirteen United States would form the greatest empire. Caleb replied, "Yes sir, and they will all speak English, every one of 'em." This showed that even though America was becoming independent, its language and culture would still be linked to Britain.
Joining Important Societies
Caleb Whitefoord was recognized for his talents and contributions. In 1784, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is a very old and respected group for scientists.
Then, in 1788, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This was thanks to the support of important people like Robert Arbuthnot and Sir William Forbes. In 1790, he was also elected to the American Philosophical Society. This shows how respected he was in both Britain and America.
Family and Later Life
In 1800, Caleb Whitefoord married a woman named Miss Craven. They had children together. Their eldest son, also named Caleb Whitefoord, became a church leader.
Caleb Whitefoord passed away on January 25, 1810. He died at his home on Argyll Street in London. He was buried at St Mary on Paddington Green Churchyard.
Caleb Whitefoord's Writings
Caleb Whitefoord was also known for his clever writing. He was a political satirist. This means he wrote funny pieces that made fun of politics and society.
Humorous Newspaper Writings
In 1766, Whitefoord published some very funny writings. He would take newspaper articles and pretend to misread them. He would then write down these "misreadings" in a humorous way. He used a fake name, or pseudonym, called Papyrius Cursor. This was a playful name that sounded like an old Roman name. His writings made people laugh and think about the news in a new way.
