Charles Bankhead

Charles Bankhead belonged to an Irish family of ministers and physicians. His father, also Charles, attended Lord Castlereagh as a physician. The younger Bankhead entered diplomacy and served in The Hague and St. Petersburg before taking assignments in Washington. He had accumulated twenty-six years of diplomatic experience by 1841. ^{1, 2}

As chargé d'affaires in 1831, Bankhead protested an attempt to organize local government in disputed Madawaska territory. After Secretary of State Edward Livingston disavowed the action and requested clemency for three imprisoned Americans, Bankhead recommended their release to New Brunswick's lieutenant-governor, Archibald Campbell. Campbell released the men and remitted their fines. Bankhead conveyed that decision to Washington in November. ³

During another acting charge, Bankhead offered British mediation in the American dispute with France over indemnity payments. On 27 January 1836 he submitted London's proposal to Secretary of State John Forsyth. On 15 February he transmitted France's assurance that President Jackson's recent explanation had removed the obstacle concerning national honor and that payment could proceed. Britain served as the channel for that assurance before a formal mediation became necessary. ⁴

Bankhead became embassy secretary at Constantinople in 1838 and headed the mission after Lord Ponsonby left in October 1841. He subsequently served as minister in Mexico. As war with the United States approached, he warned the Mexican government against uncontrolled privateering that might endanger neutral commerce. ^{2, 5}