Thomas Cleland Dawson

Background

Thomas Cleland was born on July 30, 1865 in Hudson, Wisconsin, United States. He was the son of Allan and Anna (Cleland) Dawson.

Education

Dawson graduated at Hanover College, Indiana, in 1883, studied at Harvard during 1884 and 1885 and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from the Cincinnati Law School in 1886.

Career

Dawson practised law in Des Moines, 1886-89 and in Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1891-97; was assistant attorney-general of Iowa, 1891-94; and during these years was active in state and national politics in connection with the Republican party.

After 1897 he was in the diplomatic service beginning his career as secretary of the United States legation in Brazil, he remained at that post for nearly seven years and it was during this period that he wrote his two-volume history, The South American Republics, published in 1903-04.

In 1904 he became minister resident and consul general to the Dominican Republic.

He entered upon his duties at the time when the government was practically bankrupt and European creditors were pressing for payment.

On December 30 Dawson was directed to suggest to the Dominican government that it request the United States to take charge of its customs.

Achievements

• Dawson negotiated a convention, signed early in 1905, providing that the United States should conduct the custom houses of the Republic, administer its finances.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The South American republics

    (High Quality FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION: Dawson, Thomas Clela...)

Connections

On April 5, 1900 Dawson married Luiza Guerra Duval, of Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Father:

Allan Dawson

Mother:

Anna (Cleland) Dawson

Wife:

Luiza Guerra Duval