Benjamin Parke Avery

Benjamin Parke Avery in 1874, U. S. Minister to China

Benjamin Parke Avery (1828–1875) was an American journalist, poet, essayist,[1] printer,[2] and diplomat. He served as a U.S. Department of State’s chief of mission for China in 1874.

Biography

Avery arrived in California aboard the Aurora in 1849. He worked as a prospector for a while before buying a drug store in the mining town of North San Juan, California, and then a newspaper.[2]

He became part owner and editor for the Marysville Appeal. A newspaper he established in San Francisco was also contracted as state printer for California.[1] He was friends with Charles Crocker and Leland Stanford.[1]

He served as a U.S. Department of State’s chief of mission (now known as ambassador) for China in 1874.[3][4]

Death and legacy

He died in Peking (now Beijing) on November 8, 1875.[5] His death received newspaper coverage and tribute.[1]

After his death, Edward Bosqui wrote a reminisce about him and Ina Coolbrith dedicated a poem to him. The California Historical Society has a collection of his papers.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Avery, Benjamin Parke 1828-1875 [WorldCat Identities]".
  2. ^ a b May, Ernest R. (1951). "Benjamin Parke Avery: Including a Review of the Office of State Printer, 1850-72". California Historical Society Quarterly. 30 (2): 125–149. doi:10.2307/25156293. JSTOR 25156293.
  3. ^ "Benjamin Parke Avery". Chiefs of Mission, Department History at the Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State. January 12, 2024. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009.
  4. ^ David Shavit (1990). The United States in Asia:A Historical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 9780313267888. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Benjamin Parke Avery (1828-1875). Ayres, ed. 1917. The Reader's Dictionary of Authors". www.bartleby.com.
  6. ^ Avery, Benjamin Parke; Coolbrith, Ina D; Erickson, Alice L. W (August 14, 1867). Benjamin Parke Avery miscellany. OCLC 122550132 – via Open WorldCat.