John L. Harris Papers |
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JOHN L. HARRIS PAPERS, undated
Collection Summary | |
| Repository: | The Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum 132 Essex Street Salem, MA 01970 Phone: 978-745-9500 Fax: 978-531-1516 |
| Creator: | Harris, John Levett |
| Title: | John L. Harris Papers |
| Dates: | undated |
| Quantity: | 0.25 Linear feet (1 envelope) |
| Abstract: | The John Levett Harris papers consists of bound photostats of correspondence between Harris and John Quincy Adams, the United States Secretary of State, relating to a dispute over consulate fees for landing certificates to be charged to a Captain Bowditch. |
| Collection Number: | MH 117 |
Series List
Scope and Content Note
The John Levett Harris papers consists of bound photostats of correspondence between Harris and John Quincy Adams, the United States Secretary of State, relating to a dispute over consulate fees for landing certificates to be charged to a Captain Bowditch. All of the letters are in connection with an incident that occurred on July 8 and 13, 1817 when a representative of Captain Bowditch's struck Harris on the nose in a public place. Some of the letters are written in French.
Biographical Sketch
John Levett Harris was the Consul General at St. Petersburg, Russia, from 1816 to 1819. He had succeeded his uncle, Levett Harris, in the position. While in St. Petersburg, Harris became a silent partner in the firm Cramer Brothers and apparently misused his position at Consul General to further the interests of his firm. Harris also got in trouble for taking a percentage from his vice-consuls and for taking official files when he left office. There were no official proceedings against him because the Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, did not want the Russians or other merchant houses to become involved.
Index Terms
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Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Administrative Information
Copyright
Requests for permission to publish material from the collection must be submitted in writing to the Manuscript Librarian in the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Preferred Citation
John L. Harris Papers, MH 117, Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass.
Provenance
This material was donated by Mrs. William C. Endicott.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Hilary Streifer, June 2015.
Related Material
Kirchner, Walther. Studies in Russian-American Commerce: 1820-1860. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1975.