Benjamin Alden Bidlack (September 8, 1804 – February 6, 1849) was an American politician, diplomat, and attorney who served as a member of the US House of Representatives and was later appointed chargé d'affaires to New Granada. While serving in New Granada he negotiated an agreement later known as the Mallarino–Bidlack Treaty. This treaty was the only instance in the nineteenth-century where the United States committed to defend the sovereignty of a Latin American state at the request of that state. The pact helped pave the way for the construction of the Panama Canal.
Bidlack was born in Paris, New York, the son of Benjamin Bidlack, a pioneer farmer, and Lydia Alden Bidlack. When his family moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he completed his education at local public schools . After graduation, he studied law in the office of a local attorney, Garrick Mallery.[1]
Careeredit
Shortly after admittance to the state bar in 1825, Bidlack was appointed deputy attorney of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. In 1829 he married Margaret Wallace. The couple had seven children. In 1830, he moved to Milford, Pennsylvania and entered the newspaper business. He began as publisher of the Republican Farmer. He later sold his interest in the paper and started the Northern Eagle, the first newspaper in Pike County, Pennsylvania. In 1834, he served as treasurer of Pike County.
Bidlack returned to Wilkes-Barre and was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1835-1836. In 1840 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and re-elected in 1842. As a congressman, Bidlack became sympathetic to the case of Frances Slocum, a white woman who had been abducted as a child and raised by the Miami people. Slocum was fully assimilated into the Native American culture and was accepted as one of its members. In 1845, Congress passed a joint resolution originally introduced by Bidlack that exempted Slocum and twenty-one of her Miami relatives from removal to Kansas Territory.[2]
After Bidlack lost his bid for reelection in 1844, President James Polk appointed him chargé d'affaires to New Granada on the recommendation of James Buchanan, the new secretary of state. Bidlack was instructed to gather information about crossing routes on the Isthmus of Panama and prevent other nations from securing transit rights from New Granada. However, both Bidlack and New Granada were concerned by the aggressive intentions of the French and British in the region, so Bidlack exceeded his instructions by negotiating a treaty giving the US transit rights on the isthmus in exchange for a US guarantee of New Granada's sovereignty and neutrality. His counterpart in the negotiations was New Granada's commissioner Manuel María Mallarino.[3]
The treaty was the only instance in the nineteenth-century where the United States committed to defend the sovereignty of a Latin American state at the request of that state. President Polk was surprised by Bidlack's actions and initially opposed the treaty because of the commitment to defend New Granada. He later threw his support behind the measure which received final ratification by Congress on 10 June 1848. Eventually, the pact helped pave the way for the construction of the Panama Canal.[4]
He died in Bogotá, Colombia on February 6, 1849, aged 44. He was interred in the English Cemetery.
Lach, Edward L. Jr. (2001). "Bidlack, Benjamin Alden (1804-1849)". American National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0300625.
Findling, John E. (1980). "Bidlack, Benjamin Alden (1804-1849)". Dictionary of American Diplomatic History. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. p. 56. ISBN9780313220395.
benjamin, bidlack, benjamin, alden, bidlack, september, 1804, february, 1849, american, politician, diplomat, attorney, served, member, house, representatives, later, appointed, chargé, affaires, granada, while, serving, granada, negotiated, agreement, later, . Benjamin Alden Bidlack September 8 1804 February 6 1849 was an American politician diplomat and attorney who served as a member of the US House of Representatives and was later appointed charge d affaires to New Granada While serving in New Granada he negotiated an agreement later known as the Mallarino Bidlack Treaty This treaty was the only instance in the nineteenth century where the United States committed to defend the sovereignty of a Latin American state at the request of that state The pact helped pave the way for the construction of the Panama Canal Benjamin A BidlackMember of the U S House of Representatives from PennsylvaniaIn office March 4 1841 March 3 1845Preceded byDavid PetrikinSucceeded byOwen D LeibConstituency15th district 1841 1843 11th district 1843 1845 Personal detailsBornBenjamin Alden Bidlack 1804 09 08 September 8 1804Paris New York U S DiedFebruary 6 1849 1849 02 06 aged 44 Bogota Republic of New GranadaPolitical partyDemocratic Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 References 4 SourcesEarly life and education editBidlack was born in Paris New York the son of Benjamin Bidlack a pioneer farmer and Lydia Alden Bidlack When his family moved to Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania he completed his education at local public schools After graduation he studied law in the office of a local attorney Garrick Mallery 1 Career editShortly after admittance to the state bar in 1825 Bidlack was appointed deputy attorney of Luzerne County Pennsylvania In 1829 he married Margaret Wallace The couple had seven children In 1830 he moved to Milford Pennsylvania and entered the newspaper business He began as publisher of the Republican Farmer He later sold his interest in the paper and started the Northern Eagle the first newspaper in Pike County Pennsylvania In 1834 he served as treasurer of Pike County Bidlack returned to Wilkes Barre and was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1835 1836 In 1840 he was elected to the U S House of Representatives and re elected in 1842 As a congressman Bidlack became sympathetic to the case of Frances Slocum a white woman who had been abducted as a child and raised by the Miami people Slocum was fully assimilated into the Native American culture and was accepted as one of its members In 1845 Congress passed a joint resolution originally introduced by Bidlack that exempted Slocum and twenty one of her Miami relatives from removal to Kansas Territory 2 After Bidlack lost his bid for reelection in 1844 President James Polk appointed him charge d affaires to New Granada on the recommendation of James Buchanan the new secretary of state Bidlack was instructed to gather information about crossing routes on the Isthmus of Panama and prevent other nations from securing transit rights from New Granada However both Bidlack and New Granada were concerned by the aggressive intentions of the French and British in the region so Bidlack exceeded his instructions by negotiating a treaty giving the US transit rights on the isthmus in exchange for a US guarantee of New Granada s sovereignty and neutrality His counterpart in the negotiations was New Granada s commissioner Manuel Maria Mallarino 3 The treaty was the only instance in the nineteenth century where the United States committed to defend the sovereignty of a Latin American state at the request of that state President Polk was surprised by Bidlack s actions and initially opposed the treaty because of the commitment to defend New Granada He later threw his support behind the measure which received final ratification by Congress on 10 June 1848 Eventually the pact helped pave the way for the construction of the Panama Canal 4 He died in Bogota Colombia on February 6 1849 aged 44 He was interred in the English Cemetery References edit Lach 2001 Lach 2001 Findling 1980 Findling 1980Sources editLach Edward L Jr 2001 Bidlack Benjamin Alden 1804 1849 American National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 anb 9780198606697 article 0300625 Findling John E 1980 Bidlack Benjamin Alden 1804 1849 Dictionary of American Diplomatic History Westport Conn Greenwood Press p 56 ISBN 9780313220395 United States Congress Benjamin A Bidlack id B000445 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress The Political Graveyard U S House of Representatives Preceded byDavid Petrikin Member of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 15th congressional district1841 1843 Succeeded byHenry Nes Preceded byJames Gerry Member of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 11th congressional district1843 1845 Succeeded byOwen D Leib Diplomatic posts Preceded byWilliam M Blackford United States Charge d Affaires New Granada5 December 1845 6 February 1849 Succeeded byThomas M Foote Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin A Bidlack amp oldid 1198117711, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
