Background
Stephen Mattoon was born on May 5, 1816 at Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y. He was the son of Gershom Mattoon and Anna Nancy (Sayre). With his parents he removed to Geneva, N. Y.
Stephen Mattoon was born on May 5, 1816 at Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y. He was the son of Gershom Mattoon and Anna Nancy (Sayre). With his parents he removed to Geneva, N. Y.
In New York he obtained his early schooling. Deciding to enter the ministry, he set about acquiring the necessary education, earning his way by teaching. At the age of twenty-two he entered Union College, and graduated in 1842. After a year as principal of the academy and minister of the Presbyterian church at Sandy Hill (now Hudson Falls), N. Y. , he went to Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1846. In February of that year he was ordained by the Presbytery of Troy.
With his wife and his associate, Dr. House, he sailed for Siam, reaching Bangkok in March 1847. At once he gave himself to the study of Siamese and eventually gained a thorough mastery of the structure and difficult pronunciation of the language. It fell to his lot to supervise nearly all the building operations during his term of service. When in 1851 King Maha Mongkut (Rama IV) provided the mission with a permanent location, Mattoon designed and superintended the erection of the buildings, although in order to erect a permanent brick house he had not only to learn the principles of architecture but also to teach his workmen new trades. In ecclesiastical affairs he was the leader. In 1849 he became the pastor of the first Presbyterian church organized in Bangkok. He baptized the first convert in 1851. When in 1858 the first Presbytery was organized, since he was about to sail for the United States, he was chosen the first commissioner to represent the Presbytery in the General Assembly. Because of his proficiency in both the native and the Bible languages he was assigned the task of making a new translation of the New Testament. Excellent as was the previous version of Rev. John Taylor Jones, the growth in the understanding of Siamese idiom on the part of the Americans made a new translation desirable Mattoon gave nearly fifteen years to the task, his version being published in 1865. When Sir John Bowring, the British ambassador, reached Siam in 1855 to accomplish the revision of a treaty, the King desired to appoint Mattoon and House as official interpreters "because of his express confidence in their integrity, " and when the ambassador objected on account of their American citizenship, circumvented the objection by having them serve privately. In the following year an American embassy, headed by Townsend Harris, also came seeking a treaty revision. Mattoon was appointed official interpreter for the embassy, and by his knowledge of the language and of the British negotiations was an invaluable aid to the Americans. Upon completion of the treaty, Harris appointed Mattoon the first United States consul at Bangkok. How well he discharged the delicate duties is indicated by the testimonial which was tendered him when he resigned from the consulship in 1859 before taking a furlough in America. The King and high officials gave him distinguished marks of their esteem; the English and American residents extended public honors to him, and the Americans presented him with a purse for the purchase of a silver table service to be inscribed with a laudatory legend prepared by the committee. Resigning from the mission in 1865, Mattoon returned to the United States in 1866, was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Ballston Spa, N. Y. , for nearly three years, and then served as president (1870 - 85) of Biddle Institute (now J. C. Johnson University) at Charlotte, N. C. After resigning from the presidency he continued as professor in the theological department until his death. He died at the home of a daughter in Marion, Ohio.
Stephen Mattoon was, with his co-worker Samuel Reynolds House, the founder of the Presbyterian mission in Siam. His mastery of both the written and spoken language brought two appointments of honor. During his stay in Siam Mr. Mattoon, a linquist, was the first to translate the Bible into the Siamese language. He was instrumental in the aid he gave towards the establishment of the Townsend Harris treaty between the United States and Siam. He also aided the British government in the matter of obtaining treaty rights in Siam.
Quotes from others about the person
"It was very evident that much of the apprehension they felt in taking upon themselves the responsibilities of a treaty with us would be diminished if they could have Rev. Mr. Mattoon as the first United States Consul to set the treaty in motion" - Dr. W. M. Wood.
On June 3, 1846 he married Mary, daughter of Hon. George Lowrie of Coila, Washington County, N. Y.
May 24, 1781 - October 22, 1847
July 23, 1783 - January 16, 1865
August 20, 1818 - 1819
November 9, 1806 - December 23, 1886
January 12, 1809 - March 5, 1861
August 25, 1824 - September 3, 1826
December 17, 1813 - ______
1819 - ____
November 10, 1827 - January 4, 1829
February 8, 1822 - ______
1821 - 10 February 1885
September 18, 1857 - 1931
1844 - 1929
17 December 1854 - 5 August 1929
1850 - 1851
