Cathcart, James L. (James Leander), 1767-1843

Cathcart was U.S. consul at Tripoli, later at Madeira and Cadiz.

From the description of ALS, 1799 July 14 : Tripoli in Barbary, to William Eaton, U.S. Consul, Tunis. (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 14964122

Diplomat.

From the description of James L. Cathcart papers, 1785-1817. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981112

American diplomat, American consul in Algeria when it declared war on the United States in May 1801, which forced him to retreat to Leghorn, Italy.

From the description of James L. Cathcart letter, 1801 July 10. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63937007

James Leander Cathcart (1767-1843) was born in Ireland and brought to America as a child. While he was in the merchant service, his vessel was captured by Algerines in 1785 and Cathcart, with the rest of the crew, was sold into slavery in Algiers. Able and clever, he became Christian secretary to the Bey and adviser to the Americans who were trying to appease the pirates by diplomacy and bribery. In 1798, he was appointed a special diplomatic agent by the U.S. government and accompanied William Eaton to Tunis. Cathcart later served as consul at Madeira and at Cadiz. For the last twenty years of his life he worked in the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Papers, 1788-1796. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191259228

Epithet: American Consul at Tripoli

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001093.0x0002d0

Biographical Note

• 1767, June 1: Born, Mount Murragh, County Westmeath, Ireland
• 1775: Immigrated to America
• 1779: Midshipman, Continental frigate Confederacy
• 1780 - 1782 : Captured and imprisoned on the prison ships Good Hope and Old Jersey by British forces in New York
• 1782: Escaped from the British forces
• 1785, July 25: Captured with the schooner Maria of Boston by an Algerian xebec off Cape St. Vincent; sold into slavery
• 1787 - 1792 : In captivity, served as clerk of the marine, clerk of the bagnio gallera (prison of the galley slaves), keeper of the prison tavern, and clerk to the prime minister
• 1792: Named chief Christian secretary to the Dey and Regency of Algiers
• 1795 - 1796 : Assisted in the negotiations of the Barbary Treaties
• 1796: Released from captivity; returned to the United States
• 1797 - 1801 : United States consul, Tripoli, Libya
• 1798: Married Jane Bancker Woodside of Philadelphia, Pa.
• 1798: Special diplomatic agent to assist William Eaton, Tunis, Tunisia
• 1802: United States consul general, Algiers, Algeria
• 1803: United States consul, Tunis, Tunisia
• 1807 - 1815 : United States consul, Madeira, Portugal
• 1815 - 1817 : United States consul, Cádiz, Spain
• 1818 - 1820 : Naval agent for the protection of live oak timber in Florida
• 1820 - 1840? : Employed in the United States Treasury Department, Washington, D.C.
• 1843, October 6: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the James L. Cathcart Papers, 1785-1817, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)