SOLD George VI: Bagot’s Credentials and Authorization to Negotiate Treaty Between GB and US

On December 24, 1814, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent, bringing the War of 1812 to an end. There remained, however, deep distrust between the former combatants, who had gone to war twice in two generations. This posed an ongoing problem because Canada remained a British possession and the two countries were still neighbors. So both sides fortified their borders against a future confrontation, each realizing that with no protocol governing the forces along their long border, misunderstandings could easily threaten the peace. Skirmishes were in fact fought on the Great Lakes.

Rush Bagot Treaty

Charles Bagot was Britain’s envoy to the United States starting in 1815; he would later serve as Governor-General of Canada. The War of 1812 had shown that whoever controlled the Great Lakes could command the western

approaches to both Canada and the U.S. In May 1816, the British government, desiring to reduce the armed forces on the Lakes and borders generally, and to regulate use of the Atlantic fisheries, gave Bagot authority to negotiate these and relating issues. Bagot, universally trusted in Washington, found Secretary of State and soon-to-be President James Monroe receptive to improving relations based on growing trust at their border. In August 1816, Monroe made proposals for negotiations which Bagot communicated to Britain. On April 23, 1817, with Monroe now in the White House and the Era of Good Feeelings under way, the British Prime Minister informed Richard Rush, Monroe’s Attorney General and acting Secretary of State, that American terms been accepted at the Court.

The result was the Rush-Bagot Treaty negotiated later that year. It demilitarized the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, where many British naval armaments and forts still remained, and laid the basis for a demilitarized boundary between the U.S. and British North America. Its terms limited the vessels on these lakes and provided that “All other armed vessels on these lakes shall be forthwith dismantled, and no other vessels of war shall be there built or armed…The naval force so to be limited shall be restricted to such services as will, in no respect, interfere with the proper duties of the armed vessels of the other party.”

President Monroe laid the agreement before the U.S. Senate, which formally ratified the conditions, thereby giving it the status of a treaty. The continuing peace between the United States and Canada, and the extension of the unfortified boundary from ocean to ocean, gradually gave the treaty a traditional character, until it became the longest-standing peace agreement between two powers. In fact, the terms of the treaty stood unchanged for 124 years.

The Convention of 1818

Then representatives of both governments set about extending this understanding to the establishment of fixed boundaries and rights to fish off the border areas. The Convention of 1818 accomplished this, and also allowed for joint occupation and settlement of the Oregon Country. The treaty was negotiated for the U.S. by Albert Gallatin, ambassador to France, and Richard Rush, then ambassador to Britain; and for Britain by Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, a member of the privy council, and Henry Goulburn, undersecretary of state. Bagot was actively involved in the negotiation as an advisor.

The Convention of 1818, along with the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817, marked the beginning of friendly relations between Great Britain and its former colony, and paved the way for future good relations between the U.S. and Canada.

Document Signed by both the future King George IV as Prince Regent and Foreign Secretary Lord Castlereigh, London, May 6, 1816, addressed to Chancellor of Great Britain Lord Eldon, granting “Full power to our Trusty and Well beloved the Honorable Charles Bagot, His Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, authorizing and empowering him to conclude and sign, in His Majesty’s name, with the plenipotentiaries of the said United States…a Convention or Treaty for allowing to the Citizens of the United States of America certain privileges with respect to Fishery…and also to conclude and sign a Convention for arranging the Establishments…to keep upon the Lakes separating their respective territories, and within the Harbours thereof, during peace.” Attached is the original transmitted copy of Bagot’s instructions in a clerk’s hand, stating “We do by these Presents name, make, and constitute him His Majesty’s undoubted Commissioner, Procurator, and Plenipotentiary – giving him any and all manner of power and authority, as well as our general and special command…to agree upon, treat and conclude with such Plenipotentiaries as may be vested with similar power and authority on the part of the said United States any Conventions that may pertain to the attainment of the above and to sign for His Majesty and in his name everything so agreed upon and to do and to transact all such other matters which may appertain to the finishing the aforesaid work, in as ample manner and form, and with equal force and efficacy as we ourself could do if personally present – engaging and promising on behalf of His Majesty…”