25 Facts About Ebenezer Bassett

Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett was United States Ambassador to Haiti from 1869 to 1877.

Ebenezer Bassett was the first African American diplomat and the fourth US ambassador to Haiti since the two countries established relations in 1862.

Ebenezer Bassett was appointed as new leaders emerged among free African Americans after the American Civil War.

An educator, abolitionist, and civil rights activist, Bassett was the US diplomatic envoy in 1869 to Haiti, the "Black Republic" of the Western Hemisphere.

Ebenezer Bassett finished his schooling as quickly as the school allowed, one year.

Soon Ebenezer Bassett was offered the chance to teach at a progressive new all-Black high school in Philadelphia.

Ebenezer Bassett became one of Philadelphia's leading voices for abolition of slavery and emancipation of the nearly four million enslaved Blacks.

Ebenezer Bassett used ICY as a base to recruit Blacks to serve in the Union Army.

Ebenezer Bassett hastened to invite many of the national civil rights leaders who had become colleagues.

Ebenezer Bassett had the honor of being the second speaker of the night, making his speech immediately preceding Frederick Douglass.

Ebenezer Bassett was highly respected within the academic communities of the North.

Ebenezer Bassett attended educational meetings and advised abolitionists on matters of education.

Ebenezer Bassett Basset attended the meeting and urged the need for more African American educators in the freed states, he felt freedman would have more confidence in their teachers.

Ebenezer Bassett's remaining years as an educator and activist would cement his position in the abolitionist community.

When Ulysses S Grant was elected to the presidency, he looked for Black leaders such as Ebenezer Bassett to fill important political positions.

In nominating Ebenezer Bassett to become Minister Resident to Haiti, Grant appointed him as one of the highest-ranking blacks in the US government.

Ebenezer Bassett oversaw cases of citizen commercial claims, diplomatic immunity for consular and commercial agents, and aid to citizens affected by hurricanes, fires and numerous tropical diseases.

Canal and two young relatives arrived at Ebenezer Bassett's home, seeking protection and refuge.

Seward wrote to Ebenezer Bassett, thanking him for his years of service:.

Ebenezer Bassett later returned to Haiti as secretary to Frederick Douglass who had been appointed as Minister Resident.

Ebenezer Bassett himself requested this position and historians have tied his willingness to accept this demotion to Ebenezer Bassett's financial troubles.

Ebenezer Bassett worked to temper Douglass' zeal for Pan-Americanism and American expansionism during his tenure from 1889 to 1891.

Ebenezer Bassett is buried, with family members, at the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut.

Unfortunately, unlike his peers who broke the color barrier in other professional fields, Ebenezer Bassett was forgotten with the passing of time.

Ebenezer D Bassett was a role model not simply for his symbolic importance as the first African American diplomat.