Background
Herbert was born on April 20, 1859 of American parents at Madoc, Canada, the son of John T. and Elizabeth J. Squiers.
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...of the Dragon Gate at the base. The neck enriched by three bands in gadroons, ling-chih and palm leaves. With blue seal mark: made era of Ch'ien-lung (1736-1795). Height, H inches; diameter, 9y2 inches. 373--Red And Blue Decorated Gallipot (Mei-p'ing) White Ch'ien-lung porcelain, with scrolling vines in brilliant underglaze blue, relieved by a series of soft-red lotus and passion flowers, which present delicate peach-like tones under the vitreous glaze. The shoulder is encircled by an ornate blue gadroon border, enclosing small red blossoms, while the base is finished with a blue palmation border. Blue seal mark; made era of Ch'ien-lung (1 (36-1 I Jo). Height. 14 inches; diameter, 8'/2 inches. Illustrated 374--Large Decorated Pilgrim Bottle Usual flattened shape, with archaic elephant-head handles in blue. Clear white Ch'ien-lung porcelain, with floriated underglaze blue scroll motif forming a background for a pair of Imperial "feng-huang" or fabled phoenixes (attributes of the Chinese Empress), which, together with the flaming pearl of omnipotence and large blossoms, uniformly invest the two sides, painted in two shades of rouge (Tor. Similar flowers appear on the narrow rounded ends, the small neck and at the base. Blue seal mark; era of Ch'ien-lung (1736-1795). Height. 11M4 inches: width, 15x6 inches. Illustrated 375--Bed And Bi.'-e Dragon Bottle (Mei-p'ing) Dense white porcelain of the Ch'ien-lung period, with red and blue underglaze decoration presenting four Imperial (five-clawed) dragons in delicate peach red tones (rouge de cuivre), disporting among blue lotus and passion flowers, freely posed with leafy scrolls, against the pellucid white ground. The shoulder and base are uniformly finished with ornate gadroon bordering. Bearing blue seal...
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Herbert was born on April 20, 1859 of American parents at Madoc, Canada, the son of John T. and Elizabeth J. Squiers.
He attended Canandaigua Academy, Canandaigua, New York and the Minnesota Military Academy at Minneapolis, graduating in 1877.
After his graduation from the Military Academy, he secured appointment as second lieutenant in the 16t United States Infantry. After two and a half years' service he obtained a transfer to the Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia.
On completing his course, May 1, 1882, he pleaded for and obtained assignment to the cavalry, but after three years in this branch, again sought change and got himself assigned to St. John's College, Fordham, New York, as teacher of military science.
Repeated endeavors to have Squiers return to active service proved unavailing and he remained at St. John's College until the fall of 1890, when an Indian uprising in South Dakota led him to ask for duty in the field. He was promptly ordered West, was promoted to first lieutenant, December 17, and twelve days later took part in the battle of Wounded Knee. The following summer he was granted a month's leave, and after the month was up delayed returning to duty so long that finally he was ordered to return at once or resign.
He resigned, November 28, 1891, in a letter justifying his conduct on the ground of urgent private business.
His personality and talents were much better adapted to the new career which opened for him on November 15, 1894, with appointment as second secretary to the United States embassy at Berlin. Here he remained until May 1897, when he resigned. A year and a half later he reentered the diplomatic service as secretary to the legation at Peking. During the Boxer uprising of 1900, his previous military training caused Sir Claude MacDonald to select him as chief of staff. The courage and competence with which he discharged his duties won for him the thanks of the British government and commendation by President McKinley.
From 1906 until failing health caused by tropical fevers forced his retirement in 1910, he was minister to Panama.
He died in London in 1911.
Herbert Goldsmith Squiers filled with distinguished success the arduous and difficult post of United States minister to the newly constituted Republic of Cuba. At the outset he made clear his special status as the representative of the United States, claiming the right to deal with the president of Cuba directly instead of through the secretary of state. The treaty containing the Platt Amendment was ratified during his incumbency, and he was instructed to impress upon the Cuban government the dangers of insolvency and to urge the importance of carrying out the suggested sanitation plans.
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In person Squiers was handsome and attractive, and despite his restlessness had superior qualities of mind and character, including a robust will to work.
Quotes from others about the person
Lord Lansdowne, British foreign minister, in a note to the ambassador at Washington said: "Sir Claude mentions that his (Squiers's) earlier services in the U. S. Army were of great use in the defence and that he cannot speak too highly of his zeal and ability. The barricades on the Tartar Wall were designed and carried out by him and under Sir Claude's orders he drew the plan for the entry of the troops which was conveyed to General Gaselee by a messenger let down from the wall".
Diana Preston described Squiers and his wife: "These stylish and well-connected New England 'blue noses' had excellent taste and an acquisitive streak to match, during their stay in China they amassed such an extensive collection of antique Chinese porcelain that when they eventually left Peking it filled several railroad carriages. Several newspapers unsympathetically described it as "loot". "
While stationing at the Fortress Monroe, Virginia, he married Helen Lacy Fargo, daughter of William George Fargo on October 11, 1881. His wife, having borne a son and three daughters, died in 1886, and in 1889 he married Harriet Bard Woodcock of Bedford Hills, New York, daughter of Dr. William P. and Mary (Bard) Woodcock. To this marriage three sons were born. One of his daughters married Harry Harwood Rousseau. His wife, Harriet B. W. Squiers, engaged actively in work for the wounded during the World War; she died in New York, June 18, 1935.
