Joel Roberts Poinsett was an American physician, diplomat and slave owner.
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49 Facts About Joel Poinsett
2.
Joel Poinsett was the first U S agent in South America, a member of the South Carolina legislature and the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Minister to Mexico, a Unionist leader in South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis, Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren, and a co-founder of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts .
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3.
Joel Roberts Poinsett was born in 1779 in Charleston, South Carolina, to a wealthy physician, Elisha Poinsett, and his wife Katherine Ann Roberts.
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4.
Joel Poinsett was educated in Connecticut and University of Edinburgh, gaining expertise in languages, the law, and military affairs.
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5.
In 1800 Joel Poinsett returned to Charleston hoping to pursue a military career.
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6.
Joel Poinsett was not interested in becoming a lawyer, and convinced his parents to allow him to go on an extended tour of Europe in 1801.
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7.
Joel Poinsett visited the cities of Naples and hiked up Mount Etna on the island of Sicily.
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8.
Joel Poinsett was compelled to assume the role of interpreter between the deaf Livingston and the aged Necker, whose lack of teeth made his speech almost incomprehensible.
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9.
In October 1803, Joel Poinsett left Switzerland for Vienna, Austria, and from there journeyed to Munich.
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10.
Joel Poinsett arrived in Charleston early in 1804, months after his father had been laid to rest.
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11.
Joel Poinsett arrived in the Russian capital of St Petersburg in November 1806.
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12.
Joel Poinsett made some suggestions on improvement, which the Dowager Empress accepted.
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13.
Joel Poinsett did not believe the cotton industry could be successful in Russia because of the necessity of employing serfs who received no compensation and therefore could have no interest in its prosperity.
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14.
Joel Poinsett was hesitant, which prompted Alexander to advise him to "see the Empire, acquire the language, study the people", and then decide.
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15.
Always interested in travel, Joel Poinsett accepted the invitation and left St Petersburg in March 1807 on a journey through southern Russia.
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16.
Joel Poinsett was accompanied by his English friend Philip Yorke, Viscount Royston and eight others.
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17.
Joel Poinsett boldly decided to go out of his way to the court of the Khan in the town of Kuban to demand their return.
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18.
Finally, Joel Poinsett stated that the theft of his horses would reflect badly on the fair name of the Khanate.
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19.
Joel Poinsett noted that because of the petroleum pits in the region, it had long been a spot of pilgrimage for fire-worshipers.
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20.
Joel Poinsett became one of the earliest U S travelers to the Middle East, where, in 1806, the Persian khan showed him a pool of petroleum, which he speculated might someday be used for fuel.
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21.
Joel Poinsett again met with Foreign Minister Count Romanzoff where the Russian disclosed to Joel Poinsett that the Czar ardently desired to have a minister from the United States at the Russian Court.
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23.
Joel Poinsett was to investigate the prospects of the revolutionists, in their struggle for independence from Spain.
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24.
Joel Poinsett was the first accredited agent of a foreign government to reach Chile.
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25.
Joel Poinsett declared the laws of the new Chilean government relative to free commerce null and void and sent privateers to enforce the old colonial system.
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26.
Joel Poinsett learned of the seizure of an American whaler searching for supplies from an intercepted letter from the governor of San Carlos de Chiloe to the viceroy of Lima.
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28.
Joel Poinsett's commission stated that he was to protect all American property and provide for American citizens.
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29.
Joel Poinsett was later given the rank of general in Carrera's army.
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30.
Joel Poinsett led a charge at the head of the Chilean cavalry in the Battle of San Carlos and secured a victory for Chile.
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31.
Joel Poinsett arrived at dark near the seaport of Talcahuano, and began firing on the town.
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33.
When Joel Poinsett returned to Buenos Aires, he found a Junta that was very well established.
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34.
Joel Poinsett managed to negotiate a commercial agreement with the Junta by which American articles of general consumption were admitted free of duty.
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36.
In 1816 Joel Poinsett received a letter from his old friend General Jose Miguel Carrera.
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37.
Joel Poinsett arranged a meeting between Carrera and General Bertrand Count Clausel.
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38.
Joel Poinsett, after traversing more than two thousand miles, finally returned to Charleston in early November 1816.
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39.
Joel Poinsett was aware that his friends had nominated him to represent Charleston, South Carolina, in the state legislature.
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40.
Joel Poinsett served on the South Carolina Board of Public Works as president.
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41.
In 1820, Joel Poinsett won a seat in the United States House of Representatives for the Charleston district.
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42.
In December 1823, Joel Poinsett submitted a resolution calling upon the Committee on Naval Affairs to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the construction of ten additional sloops of war.
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43.
Joel Poinsett simultaneously served as a special envoy to Mexico from 1822 to 1823, when the government of James Monroe became concerned about the stability of newly independent Mexico.
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44.
Some U S political leaders were dissatisfied with the Treaty of Limits and the Adams–Onis Treaty, Poinsett was sent to negotiate acquisition of new territories for the United States, including Texas, New Mexico, and Upper California, as well as parts of Lower California, Sonora, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon; but Poinsett's offer to purchase these areas was rejected by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Juan Francisco de Azcarate.
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45.
Joel Poinsett became a confidential agent of President Andrew Jackson, keeping Jackson abreast of situation in South Carolina between October 1832 and March 1833.
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46.
In 1833, Joel Poinsett married the widow Mary Izard Pringle, daughter of Ralph and Elizabeth Izard.
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47.
Joel Poinsett was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1825 and as a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1827.
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48.
Joel Poinsett played a prominent role in defining Freemasonry in Mexico; he favoured promoting the York Rite, which was allied to the political interests of the United States.
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49.
Joel Poinsett died of tuberculosis, hastened by an attack of pneumonia, in Stateburg, South Carolina, in 1851, and is buried at the Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal Cemetery.
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