George Clayton Foulk | |
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![]() George Clayton Foulk | |
United States Consul General to Korea Acting | |
In office September 3, 1886 – April 13, 1887 | |
Preceded by | William Harwar Parker |
Succeeded by | Hugh A. Dinsmore |
In office February 19, 1885 – June 12, 1886 | |
Preceded by | Lucius Foote |
Succeeded by | William Harwar Parker |
Personal details | |
Born | October 30, 1856 Marietta, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | 1893 Kyoto, Japan |
Cause of death | congestive heart failure |
Resting place | Nyakuoji Cemetery, Kyoto, Japan |
Spouse | Murase Kane |
Relations | Clayton Foulk (father) and Caroline Foulk (mother) |
Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
Profession | U.S. Navy officer, diplomat, teacher |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1876–1886 |
Rank | Ensign |
Unit | U.S. Naval Attache |
George Clayton Foulk (October 30, 1856 – 1893) was a United States Navy officer and U.S. Naval Attache to the Kingdom of Korea in 1876. He also served as chargé d'affaires to the Kingdom of Korea in the absence of the American minister or consul.
George Clayton Foulk was born in Marietta, Pennsylvania, son of Clayton and Caroline Foulk.
Foulk served as the acting chargé d'affaires to the Kingdom of Korea, from 1885–1886 and again, from 1886–1887. Soon after his relief by William Harwar Parker, Foulk was sent back to Korea after a report reached Washington, D.C. that Parker was a "chronic drunkard" who suffered from alcoholism. The United States government considered the situation so serious that a squadron of naval vessels was diverted to intercept Foulk's passenger liner and return him to Korea as soon as possible.
George Foulk was finally recalled several months later and relieved by Hugh A. Dinsmore with the U.S. acting at the behest of the Chinese government. The Chinese were unhappy with Foulk's attempts to build up Korea's ability to counteract Chinese and Japanese influence.
After his recall, George Foulk became a teacher, at Doshisha College (now Doshisha University), in Kyoto, Japan. On September 7, 1887, he married a Japanese national, Murase Kane, with whom he had corresponded while in Korea.
George Foulk died in 1893. He and his wife were buried together in the Nyakuoji Cemetery, Kyoto.