The Foreign Service Journal, April 2007

A P R I L 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 71 Triple Threat Peter Strickland: New London Shipmaster, Boston Merchant, First Consul to Senegal Stephen H. Grant, New Academia Publishing, 2007, $18, paperback, 231 pages. R EVIEWED BY A ARON C HASSY When done well, social history illu- minates how societies organized themselves and how they reacted to, contributed in— and sometimes even helped set off — some of the world’s great events. Similarly, well-written biographies invite us, the readers, to share with the subjects the emotional response to their successes and fail- ures in the face of life’s challenges. Taken altogether, historical events and individuals’ efforts to play out their own part in these events’ creation or unfolding are what impart meaning to these brief moments in time for future generations. Stephen Grant’s biography of Peter Strickland, the latest title in the ADST-DACOR Diplomats and Diplo- macy Series, does not set out to offer a grand sweep of history. But it pro- vides us with so much more than a simple recounting of one man’s life. It opens our eyes to the workings of transatlantic maritime commerce and U.S. diplomacy in West Africa, put- ting them in the context of some of the 19th and 20th century’s major developments. Drawing on nearly 60 years’ worth of personal diary entries and official dispatches, Grant illuminates the life of his subject, the seemingly unre- markable product of a middle-class New England family. Yet as the book’s title details, Strickland (1837- 1922) enjoyed three fairly successful careers: first as a sailor and later as a ship’s officer; then a brief stint as the West African representative of U.S.- based commercial firms; and finally, service as one of the first U.S. consuls in the region. Beyond describing his many career transitions, Grant allows Strickland’s voice to illustrate aspects of some of the major social issues facing America during that era: how to reconcile the issue of slavery between the North and the South as an alternative to an all-out war; the exploitation of unskilled labor, sea- men in this case, which drove America’s industrial revolution; and the brutal colonization of West Africa by Europe. What emerges is the portrait of a man whose vision and intellect far surpassed the capacity expected from someone with his meager for- mal training — he had only a high school education. Further, Strick- land’s views provide some insight into how American society made the col- lective choices that ultimately shaped its national character and influenced its relations with other nations. This careful blending of Strick- land’s personal view with Grant’s selective use of historical hindsight brings enormous value to our under- standing of U.S. diplomacy and how it responded to world affairs during the early years of the republic. For instead of focusing on diplomacy’s “great men,” who are often portrayed as having “made” history, this book shows us how U.S. diplomacy in gen- eral, and the institution of the consul in particular. They represented U.S. commercial interests, and provided much-needed support and service to Americans who found themselves alone in remote parts of the world. The book’s organization is straight- forward and its style is simple enough to make it a quick read while main- taining the reader’s interest through- out. It offers a rich, non-judgmental depiction of one man’s life, as well as his achievements and contributions to U.S. diplomacy, all within the context of a world undergoing significant social transformation. Aaron Chassy, a former USAID Foreign Service officer and former Peace Corps Volunteer, lived and worked for five years in West Africa, where much of this book takes place. He currently lives in Virginia, where he manages anticorruption programs for ARD, Inc., a USAID contractor. B OOKS Grant’s careful blending of historical hindsight with Strickland’s own words brings enor- mous value to our understanding of U.S. diplomacy.