Jacob S. Haldeman
Encyclopedia
Jacob Samils Haldeman was an American banker, politician and ambassador. A resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, he served in the House of Representatives
and the Senate of the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1850 to 1855. From 1861 to 1864 he was United States Minister Resident to Sweden and Norway
. He was married to Caroline R. Hummel, with whom he had two daughters. In March 1861 Lincoln
nominated Haldeman as Minister to Sweden and Norway following a suggestion by Simon Cameron
.
In May 1861 Jacob Haldeman left his home in Harrisburg and traveled to Stockholm
with his family. At his arrival in June 1861 he was greeted by the Swedish foreign minister who took the opportunity to express his government's sympathy for the Union cause.
On June 14, 1861, Haldeman wrote that "from the limited opportunity I have had to judge, I have no hesitation in the declaration of opinion that the sympathy of the entire North of Europe is almost unanimously in favor of the existing government in the United States. The emigration of this part of Europe having been to the Northern or free States, they speak of it as if they would like to give active aid to their friends, relations, and countrymen. The public voice of the nation represented by a free press is clearly and emphatically in favor of my government."
During the course of the war, Haldeman sent reports to the United States Secretary of State, William H. Seward. The reports concerned immigration from the Scandinavian countries, rumors regarding Confederate activities in the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway and the attitudes of the Swedish people and government towards the Union. When it was rumored that Confederate representatives were seeking recognition from Sweden, Seward wrote to Haldeman: "The president confidentially relies upon your well-known vigilance and activity as well as upon the friendly disposition of the Swedish government to prevent the carrying into effect of any such design". Haldeman also suggested to Seward that the U.S. should open a consulate in Kristiania (Oslo) in Norway. He also played a role in helping a Swedish army officer to gain a commission in the Union army.
Haldeman's wife, Caroline Haldeman, frequently met with the famous Swedish author Fredrika Bremer, who described the minister's wife as "a lady of most uncommon sense, cleverness and knowledge of American affairs". During a visit to Norway Caroline bought a gift to Seward's daughter. During periods of his stay in Stockholm Haldeman was sick.
In early 1864 Haldeman was recalled from his post. Although he was an official U.S. diplomat, Haldeman spoke quite openly about his sympathies for the Confederacy, which may have been the reason for William Seward's dissatisfaction with him, according to a letter from Swedish foreign minister Ludvig Manderström to Swedish minister Count Piper in 1864.
Haldeman was replaced by James Hepburn Campbell
, a fellow Pennsylvanian and outspoken abolitionist. In the fall of 1864 Haldeman had left Stockholm and traveled to Hamburg, en route for America, there he was arrested and imprisoned by Hamburg authorities. On 5 October, Haldeman was allowed to proceed on his journey. As a result of the treatment he received, he protested to the syndicus of foreign affairs.
Haldeman attempted to gain a new diplomatic post from Seward; in 1867 he wrote to Seward asking for a diplomatic mission to Europe. It is uncertain whether Haldeman was given any new posts; no further correspondence between Haldeman and Seward is preserved. Haldeman is buried in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, with his wife.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, he served in the House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
and the Senate of the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1850 to 1855. From 1861 to 1864 he was United States Minister Resident to Sweden and Norway
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
. He was married to Caroline R. Hummel, with whom he had two daughters. In March 1861 Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
nominated Haldeman as Minister to Sweden and Norway following a suggestion by Simon Cameron
Simon Cameron
Simon Cameron was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of War for Abraham Lincoln at the start of the American Civil War. After making his fortune in railways and banking, he turned to a life of politics. He became a U.S. senator in 1845 for the state of Pennsylvania,...
.
In May 1861 Jacob Haldeman left his home in Harrisburg and traveled to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
with his family. At his arrival in June 1861 he was greeted by the Swedish foreign minister who took the opportunity to express his government's sympathy for the Union cause.
On June 14, 1861, Haldeman wrote that "from the limited opportunity I have had to judge, I have no hesitation in the declaration of opinion that the sympathy of the entire North of Europe is almost unanimously in favor of the existing government in the United States. The emigration of this part of Europe having been to the Northern or free States, they speak of it as if they would like to give active aid to their friends, relations, and countrymen. The public voice of the nation represented by a free press is clearly and emphatically in favor of my government."
During the course of the war, Haldeman sent reports to the United States Secretary of State, William H. Seward. The reports concerned immigration from the Scandinavian countries, rumors regarding Confederate activities in the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway and the attitudes of the Swedish people and government towards the Union. When it was rumored that Confederate representatives were seeking recognition from Sweden, Seward wrote to Haldeman: "The president confidentially relies upon your well-known vigilance and activity as well as upon the friendly disposition of the Swedish government to prevent the carrying into effect of any such design". Haldeman also suggested to Seward that the U.S. should open a consulate in Kristiania (Oslo) in Norway. He also played a role in helping a Swedish army officer to gain a commission in the Union army.
Haldeman's wife, Caroline Haldeman, frequently met with the famous Swedish author Fredrika Bremer, who described the minister's wife as "a lady of most uncommon sense, cleverness and knowledge of American affairs". During a visit to Norway Caroline bought a gift to Seward's daughter. During periods of his stay in Stockholm Haldeman was sick.
In early 1864 Haldeman was recalled from his post. Although he was an official U.S. diplomat, Haldeman spoke quite openly about his sympathies for the Confederacy, which may have been the reason for William Seward's dissatisfaction with him, according to a letter from Swedish foreign minister Ludvig Manderström to Swedish minister Count Piper in 1864.
Haldeman was replaced by James Hepburn Campbell
James Hepburn Campbell
James Hepburn Campbell was an Opposition Party and Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Biography:...
, a fellow Pennsylvanian and outspoken abolitionist. In the fall of 1864 Haldeman had left Stockholm and traveled to Hamburg, en route for America, there he was arrested and imprisoned by Hamburg authorities. On 5 October, Haldeman was allowed to proceed on his journey. As a result of the treatment he received, he protested to the syndicus of foreign affairs.
Haldeman attempted to gain a new diplomatic post from Seward; in 1867 he wrote to Seward asking for a diplomatic mission to Europe. It is uncertain whether Haldeman was given any new posts; no further correspondence between Haldeman and Seward is preserved. Haldeman is buried in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, with his wife.
External links
- Jacob S. Haldeman at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...