Seth Ledyard Phelps
Seth Ledyard Phelps (born January 31, 1824 in Chardon , Ohio , † June 24, 1885 in Lima , Peru ) was an American politician and diplomat . In 1878 and 1879, he served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Mayor of the federal capital Washington, DC
Career
Seth Phelps began his career as a seaman with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company . He was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War . During the Civil War he was deployed on river boats inland and at times reported to Army General Ulysses S. Grant . In October 1864 he retired from the military with the rank of Lieutenant Commander . After that he was the American consul in Acapulco ( Mexico ) for some time .
The party affiliation of Seth Phelps is not recorded. Between 1875 and 1879 he was a member of the Washington City Board of Commissioners . This three-person body headed the city administration. In 1878 he was appointed chairman. In this capacity he practically exercised the office of mayor, even if this title was not officially used between 1871 and 1975. He held this office between 1878 and his resignation the following year. In 1883, Seth Phelps was appointed American envoy to Peru by President Chester A. Arthur, based in the local capital, Lima. He held this post until his death on June 24, 1885. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery , Washington.
Web links
- Seth Ledyard Phelps in the database of Find a Grave (English)
- The Political Graveyard
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| William Dennison |
Mayor of Washington 1878–1879 |
Josiah Dent |
| Stephen A. Hurlbut |
United States Envoy to Peru April 24, 1885–24. June 1885 |
Charles W. Buck |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Phelps, Seth Ledyard |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American politician and diplomat |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 31, 1824 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Chardon , Ohio |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 24, 1885 |
| Place of death | Lima , Peru |