President Lincoln Authorizes the Ambassador to Negotiate the First Ever Treaty Between the US and the New Nation of Italy
A great moment between the fledgling European nation, newly united under one flag, which led to the treaty's accomplishment
Prior to the 1861 unification of Italy, the Italian peninsula was fragmented into several kingdoms, duchies, and city-states; there was no united nation of Italy. For this reason, since the early 19th century, the United States maintained several legations which served the larger Italian states. In 1831 the United States established a...
Prior to the 1861 unification of Italy, the Italian peninsula was fragmented into several kingdoms, duchies, and city-states; there was no united nation of Italy. For this reason, since the early 19th century, the United States maintained several legations which served the larger Italian states. In 1831 the United States established a legation to the Two Sicilies at Naples, while in 1840 the United States established a legation to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Finally, in 1848, the United States opened a legation to the Papal States in Rome. Then Italy was unified as the Kingdom of Italy. The Kingdom existed from March 17, 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King, until June 12, 1946, when the monarchy was abolished. A referendum on June 2, 1946, resulted in the modern Italian Republic.
George P. Marsh had served as a member of Vermont’s Congressional delegation from 1843-1848 and as the United States Minister to Turkey from 1848-1854. When not occupied practicing law or by a variety of business ventures, Marsh devoted himself to study. A leading scholar of his day and an accomplished linguist, Marsh spoke a dozen languages fluently and wrote books on a wide range of topics including architecture, language and agriculture. He is best remembered for his pioneering and perceptive study of ecology, “Man and Nature”.
In 1861, the United States recognized the Kingdom of Italy. President Abraham Lincoln appointed Marsh the first United States minister to that Kingdom. Marsh would go on to be the longest-serving chief of mission in U.S. history, serving as envoy for 21 years until his death in 1882. During the period of Italian unification, Marsh, as Minister Plenipotentiary to Italy, oversaw the move of the U.S. Legation from Turin to Florence in 1865 and from Florence to Rome in 1871. He is buried in Rome.
Document signed, Washington, June 15, 1864, ordering the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to “a Full Power authorizing George P. Marsh, Esq…Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Turin, to negotiate a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the Kingdom of Italy, dated this day and signed by me and for so doing this shall be his warrant.”
Negotiations took some years, but in 1871, in the State of the Union address, President Grant announced that a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation had been concluded with Italy.
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