Samuel R. Gummere
Encyclopedia
Samuel Rene Gummere was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as US Consul-General in Tangier
, Morocco
from 1898–1905, and Ambassador to Morocco
from 1905–09, and became well known for his roles in the Perdicaris incident of 1904 and the Algeciras Conference
two years later.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey
, he ran a law practice for several years. He traveled Europe extensively during the 1880s and became interested in politics. In 1898, having served in minor diplomatic posts, he was appointed Counsel-General in Tangier by President William McKinley
and was later made Ambassador. He was considered a "diplomat of polish and ability, and a brilliant conversationalist and raconteur."
He became an important player in the Perdicaris incident, in which Berber chieftain Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli
kidnapped American expatriates Ion Perdicaris
and his stepson, Cromwell Varley. Gummere, a personal friend and former business partner of Perdicaris, initially advocated military action, but President Theodore Roosevelt
and Secretary of State John Hay
were more cautious, arguing that the situation in Morocco — which was maintaining a precarious independence due to the intrigues of foreign powers such as France
, Britain
, Germany
, and Spain
— made military action impractical. Gummere met with the Ambassadors of France and Britain, and they agreed to help pressure the Sultan to meet Raisuli's demands. Raisuli agreed to release his hostage, but after this Hay sent Gummere the famous telegraph which read: "Perdicaris Alive or Raisuli Dead!" largely as a matter of saving face. Gummere later found out that Perdicaris was not in fact an American citizen (having become a naturalized citizen of Greece
during 1862) and angrily demanded an explanation, leading to a falling out between the former friends.
Gummere was appointed as the first US Minister to Morocco as a reward for his service in resolving the crisis. Later, he served as one of the American mediators, under Ambassador to Italy Henry White
, in the Algeciras Conference of 1906, which helped resolve European tensions over Morocco. The conference called for the organization of a State Bank for Morocco and the organization of a Moroccoan native police force — albeit under European supervision. While the Europeans backed this plan, Moroccan Sultan Abdelaziz
was initially reluctant, finally agreeing to sign it on June 18. The conference also rebuked French attempts to establish Morocco as a protectorate; but ultimately, French control of Morocco was only staved off for six years.
After 1909 Gummere retired from public life, dying eleven years later.
In the heavily fictionalized film The Wind and the Lion
(1975), which deals with the Perdicaris incident, he was portrayed by Geoffrey Lewis.
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
from 1898–1905, and Ambassador to Morocco
United States Ambassador to Morocco
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Morocco. The United States first recognized Morocco in 1797, but diplomatic relations were not established until 1905. In 1912 Morocco came under the control of France and Spain as protectorates. The United States did not initially recognize the...
from 1905–09, and became well known for his roles in the Perdicaris incident of 1904 and the Algeciras Conference
Algeciras Conference
The Algeciras Conference of 1906 took place in Algeciras, Spain, and lasted from January 16 to April 7. The purpose of the conference was to find a solution to the First Moroccan Crisis between France and Germany, which arose as Germany attempted to prevent France from establishing a protectorate...
two years later.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, he ran a law practice for several years. He traveled Europe extensively during the 1880s and became interested in politics. In 1898, having served in minor diplomatic posts, he was appointed Counsel-General in Tangier by President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
and was later made Ambassador. He was considered a "diplomat of polish and ability, and a brilliant conversationalist and raconteur."
He became an important player in the Perdicaris incident, in which Berber chieftain Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli
Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli
Mulai Ahmed er Raisuni was the Sharif of the Jebala tribe in Morocco at the turn of the 20th Century, and considered by many to be the rightful heir to the throne of Morocco...
kidnapped American expatriates Ion Perdicaris
Ion Perdicaris
Ion Hanford Perdicaris was a Greek-American playboy who was the centre of a notable kidnapping known as the Perdicaris incident, which aroused international conflict in 1904.-Family life:...
and his stepson, Cromwell Varley. Gummere, a personal friend and former business partner of Perdicaris, initially advocated military action, but President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and Secretary of State John Hay
John Hay
John Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
were more cautious, arguing that the situation in Morocco — which was maintaining a precarious independence due to the intrigues of foreign powers such as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
— made military action impractical. Gummere met with the Ambassadors of France and Britain, and they agreed to help pressure the Sultan to meet Raisuli's demands. Raisuli agreed to release his hostage, but after this Hay sent Gummere the famous telegraph which read: "Perdicaris Alive or Raisuli Dead!" largely as a matter of saving face. Gummere later found out that Perdicaris was not in fact an American citizen (having become a naturalized citizen of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during 1862) and angrily demanded an explanation, leading to a falling out between the former friends.
Gummere was appointed as the first US Minister to Morocco as a reward for his service in resolving the crisis. Later, he served as one of the American mediators, under Ambassador to Italy Henry White
Henry White (diplomat)
Henry White was a prominent U.S. diplomat during the 1890s and 1900s, and one of the signers of the Treaty of Versailles....
, in the Algeciras Conference of 1906, which helped resolve European tensions over Morocco. The conference called for the organization of a State Bank for Morocco and the organization of a Moroccoan native police force — albeit under European supervision. While the Europeans backed this plan, Moroccan Sultan Abdelaziz
Abdelaziz of Morocco
Abdelaziz of Morocco , also known as Mulai Abd al-Aziz IV, served as the Sultan of Morocco from 1894 at the age of sixteen until he was deposed in 1908. He succeeded his father Hassan I of Morocco...
was initially reluctant, finally agreeing to sign it on June 18. The conference also rebuked French attempts to establish Morocco as a protectorate; but ultimately, French control of Morocco was only staved off for six years.
After 1909 Gummere retired from public life, dying eleven years later.
In the heavily fictionalized film The Wind and the Lion
The Wind and the Lion
The Wind and the Lion is a 1975 adventure film. It was written and directed by John Milius and starred Sean Connery, Candice Bergen, Brian Keith and John Huston...
(1975), which deals with the Perdicaris incident, he was portrayed by Geoffrey Lewis.