ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the United States (1803–1806), ambassador of the United Kingdom to Denmark (1807–1807), ambassador of the United Kingdom to Sweden (1808–1809)
Biographyedit
The son of a London wine merchant, Anthony Merry served in various diplomatic posts in Europe between 1783 and 1803, holding mostly consular positions. In 1803 he married Elizabeth Leathes, widow of John Leathes of Herringfield House, Suffolk. He was Chargé d'Affaires in Madrid in 1796 and again in Copenhagen about 1799, and Minister ad interim in Paris in 1802.[1] Merry was Britain's representative to the United States in Washington, D.C. from 1803 to 1806.[2]
When Merry arrived in the United States, he was received without any hospitality by PresidentThomas Jefferson, who greeted him in casual clothes and bedroom slippers and was inclined to show hostility towards Britain through Merry. Merry and his wife were invited to dinner at the White House along with the Frenchchargé d'affaires and his wife at a time when the two countries were at war with one another, a notable breach of etiquette.[3] When Merry made a complaint about protocol to James Madison, Madison increased the offence by referring to it as "a matter of very little moment". Jefferson's hostility extended to Mrs. Merry, whom he called a "virago", though Aaron Burr greatly admired her.[4]
From then on Merry found himself disgusted by America. Soon after, Aaron Burr came to Merry seeking help with detaching the Ohio and Mississippi valleys from the Union. Merry reported back to the Foreign Office that Burr was extremely willing and ready to seek revenge against the United States. In April 1805 Merry was again approached by Burr, who claimed that Louisiana was ready to leave the United States. Burr, however, after being dropped from the Presidential ticket, had not the money nor power to seize Louisiana. He, therefore, sought assistance from Britain through Merry. Unfortunately for Merry and Burr, Britain had a new Foreign Secretary, Charles James Fox, who was friendly with America. Fox found the request treasonous, and on 1 June 1806, recalled Merry to Britain.[5] According to Henry Adams, Burr's intention was to exploit the dissatisfaction of the populace of Louisiana with the purchase.[6]
Merry did not expect to be employed again, but in 1807 the new British government sent him to Copenhagen to conciliate the Danes over the bombardment of Copenhagen. Merry was then sent as British Minister to Sweden from 1808, a post from which he retired in 1809. He then lived at Dedham, Essex until his death in 1835.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abMalcolm Lester, 'Merry, Anthony (1756–1835)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [1], accessed 29 Dec 2008
^The World Almanac and Book of Facts. Press Publishing Company, (The New York World 1895), p. 124.
^Henry Adams, History of the United States of America during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson, Library of America, 1986, p. 551 et seq.
^Henricks, Nancy (2015). America's First Ladies. ABC-CLIO, p. 23.
^Henry Adams, History of the United States during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson Library of America, p. 775.
^Henry Adams, History of the United States during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson Library of America, p. 574 ff.
Further readingedit
Steel, Anthony. "Anthony Merry and the Anglo-American Dispute about Impressment, 1803-6." Cambridge Historical Journal 9#3 (1949): 331-51. online.
anthony, merry, august, 1756, june, 1835, british, diplomat, britain, representative, united, states, washington, from, 1803, 1806, british, minister, sweden, from, 1808, 1809, portrait, gilbert, stuart, 1805born2, august, 1756, died14, june, 1835, aged, occup. Anthony Merry 2 August 1756 14 June 1835 was a British diplomat He was Britain s representative to the United States in Washington D C from 1803 to 1806 and British Minister to Sweden from 1808 to 1809 Anthony Merryportrait by Gilbert Stuart 1805Born2 August 1756 Died14 June 1835 aged 78 OccupationDiplomat EmployerForeign Office Spouse s Elizabeth Merry Position heldambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the United States 1803 1806 ambassador of the United Kingdom to Denmark 1807 1807 ambassador of the United Kingdom to Sweden 1808 1809 Biography editThe son of a London wine merchant Anthony Merry served in various diplomatic posts in Europe between 1783 and 1803 holding mostly consular positions In 1803 he married Elizabeth Leathes widow of John Leathes of Herringfield House Suffolk He was Charge d Affaires in Madrid in 1796 and again in Copenhagen about 1799 and Minister ad interim in Paris in 1802 1 Merry was Britain s representative to the United States in Washington D C from 1803 to 1806 2 When Merry arrived in the United States he was received without any hospitality by President Thomas Jefferson who greeted him in casual clothes and bedroom slippers and was inclined to show hostility towards Britain through Merry Merry and his wife were invited to dinner at the White House along with the French charge d affaires and his wife at a time when the two countries were at war with one another a notable breach of etiquette 3 When Merry made a complaint about protocol to James Madison Madison increased the offence by referring to it as a matter of very little moment Jefferson s hostility extended to Mrs Merry whom he called a virago though Aaron Burr greatly admired her 4 From then on Merry found himself disgusted by America Soon after Aaron Burr came to Merry seeking help with detaching the Ohio and Mississippi valleys from the Union Merry reported back to the Foreign Office that Burr was extremely willing and ready to seek revenge against the United States In April 1805 Merry was again approached by Burr who claimed that Louisiana was ready to leave the United States Burr however after being dropped from the Presidential ticket had not the money nor power to seize Louisiana He therefore sought assistance from Britain through Merry Unfortunately for Merry and Burr Britain had a new Foreign Secretary Charles James Fox who was friendly with America Fox found the request treasonous and on 1 June 1806 recalled Merry to Britain 5 According to Henry Adams Burr s intention was to exploit the dissatisfaction of the populace of Louisiana with the purchase 6 Merry did not expect to be employed again but in 1807 the new British government sent him to Copenhagen to conciliate the Danes over the bombardment of Copenhagen Merry was then sent as British Minister to Sweden from 1808 a post from which he retired in 1809 He then lived at Dedham Essex until his death in 1835 1 References edit a b Malcolm Lester Merry Anthony 1756 1835 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 online edn Jan 2008 1 accessed 29 Dec 2008 The World Almanac and Book of Facts Press Publishing Company The New York World 1895 p 124 Henry Adams History of the United States of America during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson Library of America 1986 p 551 et seq Henricks Nancy 2015 America s First Ladies ABC CLIO p 23 Henry Adams History of the United States during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson Library of America p 775 Henry Adams History of the United States during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson Library of America p 574 ff Further reading editSteel Anthony Anthony Merry and the Anglo American Dispute about Impressment 1803 6 Cambridge Historical Journal 9 3 1949 331 51 online Diplomatic postsPreceded byRobert Liston British Minister to the United States1803 1806 Succeeded byDavid ErskinePreceded byEdward Thornton British ambassador to Sweden1808 1809 Succeeded byEdward Thornton Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anthony Merry amp oldid 1205014676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
