John W. Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Foster
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| 32nd United States Secretary of State | |
| In office June 29, 1892 – February 23, 1893 |
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| President | Benjamin Harrison |
| Preceded by | James G. Blaine |
| Succeeded by | Walter Q. Gresham |
| United States Minister to Spain | |
| In office June 16, 1883 – August 28, 1885 |
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| President | Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Hannibal Hamlin |
| Succeeded by | Jabez Curry |
| United States Minister to Russia | |
| In office June 11, 1880 – August 1, 1881 |
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| President | Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield |
| Preceded by | Edwin W. Stoughton |
| Succeeded by | William H. Hunt |
| United States Minister to Mexico | |
| In office June 16, 1873 – March 2, 1880 |
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| President | Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Nelson |
| Succeeded by | Philip H. Morgan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Watson Foster
March 2, 1836 Petersburg, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 15, 1917 (aged 81) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Parke McFerson
(m. 1859) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Indiana University, Bloomington (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States• Union |
| Branch/service |  United States Army• Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Watson Foster (born March 2, 1836 – died November 15, 1917) was an important American diplomat and military officer. He was also a lawyer and a journalist. His most important job was serving as the U.S. Secretary of State for President Benjamin Harrison. He also worked as a lawyer helping with international relations.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
John Foster was born on March 2, 1836, in Petersburg, Indiana. He grew up in Evansville, Indiana. His parents hoped he would become a preacher, but after graduating from Indiana University in 1855, he chose a different path. He went to Harvard Law School to study law. After that, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to start his career as a lawyer.
In 1861, when the American Civil War began, Foster joined the Union Army. He started as a major and rose to the rank of colonel. He served with several Indiana volunteer regiments. His troops were among the first to enter Knoxville, Tennessee, after a successful military campaign.
After the war ended in 1865, Foster went back to Indiana. Besides working as a lawyer, he also edited a newspaper called the Evansville Daily Journal. He used the newspaper to support the Republican Party.
A Career in Washington, D.C.
Foster moved to Washington, D.C., during President Ulysses S. Grant's time in office. Because of his support for the Republican Party, he was given several important jobs.
Serving as a U.S. Ambassador
Presidents Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, and James A. Garfield appointed Foster as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 1873 to 1880. Later, he became the U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 1880 to 1881. President Chester A. Arthur then made him the United States Ambassador to Spain from 1883 to 1885.
Becoming Secretary of State
During President Benjamin Harrison's time, Foster worked as a special helper for the State Department. He then became the Secretary of State for the last six months of Harrison's presidency. This job meant he was the main advisor on foreign affairs. As Secretary of State, he helped with changes in the government of Hawaii.
Later Diplomatic Work
Even after leaving his public office, Foster continued to work on important diplomatic missions. He helped negotiate trade agreements with eight different countries. He also worked on a treaty with Britain and Russia about seal hunting in the Bering Sea. He also served as a legal consultant for China, helping to negotiate a treaty.
Foster also wrote several books about diplomacy and international relations. These included American Diplomacy in the Orient (1903) and The Practice of Diplomacy (1906).
Family Life
John Foster married Mary Parke McFerson in 1859. They had children, though some sadly did not live to adulthood.
Foster had two daughters who had famous children. His daughter Edith Foster married Allen Macy Dulles. Their sons included John Foster Dulles, who also became a U.S. Secretary of State, and Allen Welsh Dulles, who became the first civilian Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Foster's other daughter, Eleanor, married Robert Lansing, who also served as U.S. Secretary of State. This means John Foster had two sons-in-law and a grandson who became Secretary of State! He was also the great-grandfather of Cardinal Avery Dulles, a well-known theologian.
Death and Legacy
John Foster passed away in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1917. His body was brought back to Evansville, Indiana, where he was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. This cemetery is a historic place in Indiana.
See also
In Spanish: John W. Foster para niños
