Background
George William Erving the only child of George and Lucy (Winslow) Erving. When Washington captured Boston, the father, a moderate Loyalist, left with his family for Halifax and later for England.
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The Alphabet of the Primitive Language of Spain, and a Philosophical Examination of the Antiquity and Civilization of the Basque People
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GEORGE WILLIAM ERVING
Edit ProfileEducation
The son was educated at Oriel College, Oxford.
Career
At twenty-one he followed his father’s injunction and returned to the United States. Samuel Adams furnished him with a letter of introduction to Thomas Jefferson, whose ardent supporter Erving became. On becoming President, Jefferson offered him the post of chargé d’affaires to Portugal, which Erving declined. Jefferson urged upon him the then rather delicate position of consul at Tunis. Instead, Erving accepted the position of agent in London to look after the claims and appeals of American seamen. In 1804, Jefferson transferred him to the legation at Madrid. In the absence of his cousin, James Bowdoin, the minister, Erving became chargé d’affaires. He learned Spanish. Pie observed and reported in his dispatches the discord in the royal family, the disgrace of Godoy, the arrival of Murat, the crowning of Joseph Bonaparte and the work of the migratory junta. Under the circumstances he could do little to promote American interests. He left Spain for home on November 1, 1809. He reported to Jefferson at Monticello and brought him samples of merino wool. Madison appointed Erving a special minister to Copenhagen to adjust claims for spoliations. He succeeded beyond expectations. Madison stated that he had never had a more capable and faithful minister. The critical relations, with Spain in regard to Florida, the western boundary of Louisiana, and the claims caused Madison to designate Erving as minister to Madrid in 1814. Nearly two years passed before he was received. He then initiated the negotiations which after various shifts between Madrid and Washington culminated in the Treaty of 1819. Erving did not enjoy fully the confidence of John Quincy Adams as secretary of state, yet Adams might have profited by a closer examination of the vigilant and careful dispatches from Madrid, notably that of Febuary, 1818, warning Adams of the Royal grants of land in Florida to the King’s favorites. For reasons of health and business Erving resigned from the diplomatic service in 1819. Under the belief that a holograph, a will written in the testator’s own hand and without witnesses, was everywhere valid, he left copies of such a will in various places. He died in New York and his considerable wealth was distributed according to the laws of that state governing the property of those who die intestate.
Achievements
Works
book
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The Alphabet of the Primitive Language of Spain, and a Philosophical Examination of the Antiquity and Civilization of the Basque People
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
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The Alphabet of the Primitive Language of Spain, and a Philosophical Examination of the Antiquity and Civilization of the Basque People
Membership
He became a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1822 and presented to it a cabinet of medals struck in Europe in commemoration of leading men and events in America.
Connections
Erving traveled extensively in Europe. He never married.
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Born
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Died
July 22, 1850 (aged 81) -
Nationality
American