Lucius Foote
Lucius Harwood Foote (1826–1913) was the first American minister to Korea and served from 1883 to 1885.
Biography
Born April 10, 1826 in Winfield, New York [1] to Rev. Lucius Foote and Electa (Harwood) Foote. He married in 1862 to Rose Frost Carter (d.1885). He was the Adjutant General of the California National Guard from December 21, 1871 to December 13, 1875.
Work in Korea
In May 1882, Korea and the United States signed a treaty of commerce(조미 수호 통상 조약) in Chemulpo Port (modern day Incheon). This treaty required an American political presence in Korea. Foote was assigned a year later with the title Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. However, due to low trade volumes, in July 1884 Foote was demoted to the position of Minister Resident. In August 1884, he purchased a hanok-style house from the Min family and thus established the American Legation[2] He shared the building with Horace Newton Allen.
Legacy
When Foote resigned and left Seoul in January 1885, George Clayton Foulk replaced him. He retired to San Francisco and later died June 4, 1913.[3]
References
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