Thomas Westbrook Waldron (consul)

Thomas Westbrook Waldron (1814–1844) 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 honored by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a ceremony in 2009.[5]

Thomas W. Waldron
Wreath laying at Waldron's graveWreath laying
Wreath laying at Waldron's grave[1]
United States Consul to Hong Kong and Macau
In office
July 21, 1843 – September 8, 1844
PresidentJohn Tyler
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byFrederick Busch
Personal details
Born
Thomas Westbrook Waldron

(1814-05-01)May 1, 1814
United States
DiedSeptember 18, 1844(1844-09-18) (aged 30)
Macau
Resting placeOld Protestant Cemetery, Macau
Parent(s)Daniel Waldron and Olive Sheafe
OccupationCaptain's clerk, U.S. Navy; U.S. Consul to Hong Kong, naval store keeper to the US East India Squadron[2]
Secretary of State honors Consul Thomas Westbrook Waldron and others

Family

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

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 traveled to neighboring 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 honoring several diplomats who were deceased during their duty, he was honored by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.[5] A second ceremony occurred the same month at his burial site at Old Protestant Cemetery, Macau.[4]

Landmarks

Waldron Glacier, is named after him. Waldron Island in the San Juan Islands off of Puget Sound is named either after he or his brother Richard. [11]

References
  1. Wreath laying
  2. Gravestone, "Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau" accessed November 21, 2010
  3. "Evening Journal", "Exploring Expedition", June 13, 1842, accessed May 30, 2014
  4. "Ceremony Recalls Fallen Diplomats", State Magazine (Oct 2009), p.8. Accessed September 5, 2010
  5. "American Foreign Service Association's Memorial Plaque Ceremony" Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, C Street Lobby, Washington, D.C., May 1, 2009
  6. Howard, Cecil Hampden Cutts (1892). Genealogy of the Cutts family in America. Boston Public Library. Albany, N. Y., J. Munsell's sons.
  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 honored 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 September 5, 2010
  8. United States. Congress. Senate Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United ..., Volume 6 accessed November 21, 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 September 6, 2010
  10. Ride, Lindsay; Ride, May; Mellor, Bernard (November 1, 1995). An East India Company Cemetery: Protestant Burials in Macao. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 978-962-209-384-3.
  11. Waldron Island '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 honored 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.
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