Thomas M. Foote
BornAugust 9, 1808
DiedFebruary 20, 1858
EducationHamilton College
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Occupation(s)Diplomat, newspaper editor
SpouseMargaret (St. John) Foote

Thomas Moses Foote (August 9, 1808 – February 20, 1858) was an American diplomat and newspaper editor.

Biography

Early life

Thomas Moses Foote was born on August 9, 1808. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1825. He went on to study medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Fairfield, New York.

Career

He practised medicine. Later, he switched his career to journalism. He was editor of the Albany State Register and the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.[1][2]

From January 5 to October 15, 1850, he served as U.S. Chargé to New Granada. Appointed by President Millard Fillmore on September 16, 1852, he served as U.S. Chargé to the Austrian Empire from December 14, 1852, to June 25, 1853.[3]

Personal life

He was married Aug. 10, 1836 to Margaret St. John of Buffalo.[4] On July 27, 1849, while packing for their journey to Bogota, Margaret contracted cholera and died.[5] On 18 June 1851, he married Julia Allen Wilkeson, daughter of General Ethan B. Allen, widow of Eli R. Wilkeson (son of Judge Samuel Wilkeson, who had also married one of the St. John daughters). During the stay in Vienna, Julia entered the final stages of tuberculosis.[6] The day after their return to New York City on the Baltic Collins Line steamship Baltic, his wife died at the age of 33, reportedly having been in feeble health for some time.[7] In 1857, he married a third time, to Maria Bird, daughter of Col. William A. Bird, but he died shortly after this marriage.[8] He had two children by Margaret St. John.

Death

He died in Buffalo on February 20, 1858, after an illness of five days.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Death of Hon. Thomas M. Foote". The New York Times. 1858-02-23. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  2. ^ The Second Jackson Administration at Google Books, p. 147
  3. ^ "FORMER U.S. AMBASSADORS TO AUSTRIA". U.S. Embassy in Vienna. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  4. ^ National Cyclopedia of American Biography, vol. 7, p. 533.
  5. ^ Western Literary Messenger vol 11/12,284
  6. ^ Family history: the literary sources do not mention the specific illness.
  7. ^ "Recent Deaths". The New York Times. 1853-07-01. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  8. ^ Welch, Samuel Manning. Home History: Recollections of Buffalo During the Decade from 1830-1840.
Diplomatic posts Preceded byBenjamin A. Bidlack U.S. Chargé to New Granada 1850 Succeeded byYelverton P. King Preceded byCharles J. McCurdy U.S. Chargé to the Austrian Empire 1852–1853 Succeeded byHenry R. Jackson
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