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to intemperance, Potter died in a bar three in 1844, Everett set sail for China the following
days later. With bells striking solemnly and March, invited by President Polk to serve as the
the American flag lowered, sailors carried the U.S. Ambassador to China. However, Everett
body, wrapped in white cloth, along the winding soon returned to the United States due to health
paths near the Pearl River. After arriving at the concerns. Everett set sail for Guangzhou again
cemetery on Zhugang mountain, the body was and arrived on October 22nd, 1846.
lowered into the tomb. In Cambridge Museum,
Massachusetts, a 19th-century oil painting, During his tenure (which lasted for eight months
Foreigners’ Cemetery at Whampoa portrays a and six days), Everett received a warm welcome
similar scene: under the sun’s defying glare, the from QiYing, an influential Chinese official
tombs appear exceptionally serene and sacred. who ruled Canton, whereas Evertt’s successors
failed to form such strong relations with Chinese
In the third row of the third column, lies officials. Everett’s proposal of uniting with
Alexander Hill Everett, the second U.S. Russia and France against British monopoly in
Commissioner to China. The tombstone, built as the Guangdong region was rejected by the U.S.
a mini-obelisk, consists of three pieces of granite president. Further, Everett’s request to enter
masonry with the top built as a tetrahedral the Capital and greet the Emperor was refused
prism. The inscription is engraved on the base, under the pretense from Emperor Daoguang for
with English on the front and Chinese on the having never received any foreign envoys before.
back. The English inscription says, “Alexander Today, it is nothing out of the ordinary for
Hill Everett, Ambassador of the United States foreign delegations to visit a country’s monarch.
of America to China, Born on March 19, 1790, in However, only after 1873 did Emperor Tongzhi
Boston, Massachusetts, Graduated in 1806 from agree to “condescend” himself and greet foreign
the Institute of Cambridge … and passed away on guests in front of Ziguang Pavilion, marking a
June 28, 1847, Age 58.” The Chinese Inscription milestone in China’s foreign affairs policy.
translates, “Tomb of Alexander Everett, Foreign
Minister of the United States of America to On June 28th, 1847, Everett died in Guangzhou
China. Passed Away on the Ninth Day of April, and was buried in Zhugang Mountain. After
Twenty-Ninth Year of Emperor Daoguang, that is, the foreigners’ cemetery was opened to public,
the First Day of May 1849 Years After the Birth of American personnel from the U.S. Embassy
Our Lord, Jesus Christ.” paid their homage to Everett on Chinese
Memorial Day. According to YangCheng Review,
Everett graduated from the Cambridge Institute Brian Goldbeck, former U.S. Consul General
at the age of sixteen and held many high-ranking to Guangdong, once said, “We came on the
political and business offices. Everett was also a Chinese Memorial Day due to respect for the
poet and scholar, having written much poetry and Chinese tradition, as well as commemorating our
literature. Besides, Everett served as ambassador predecessors.” Goldbeck also recited Everett’s
to other nations, including the Russian Empire, poem of 1845, The Young American, which was
Netherlands, and Spain. Long before serving in published prior to his departure. The poem
China, Everett “held his admiration for Chinese expressed Everett’s dedication to promote U.S.-
literature and political affairs,” and “sought to Sino relations, which has flourished from the
study Chinese culture.” bedrock that he has built.
Everett is, in some respects, “a dear friend to Happy if celestial favor
China.” He held many aspirations when serving Smile upon the high endeavor:
in China. However, due to his brief tenure and
unexpected death, scholars consider Everett as an Happy if be thy call
unsuccessful diplomat. Professor James. R. Elkins In the holy cause to fall.
states the following about Everett in the article,
Total Strangers: Lawyers and Poets: “Everett —The Young American, Alexander Everett, 1845
was an active, but undistinguished politician.”
After the conclusion of the Treaty of Wangxia
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 26
days later. With bells striking solemnly and March, invited by President Polk to serve as the
the American flag lowered, sailors carried the U.S. Ambassador to China. However, Everett
body, wrapped in white cloth, along the winding soon returned to the United States due to health
paths near the Pearl River. After arriving at the concerns. Everett set sail for Guangzhou again
cemetery on Zhugang mountain, the body was and arrived on October 22nd, 1846.
lowered into the tomb. In Cambridge Museum,
Massachusetts, a 19th-century oil painting, During his tenure (which lasted for eight months
Foreigners’ Cemetery at Whampoa portrays a and six days), Everett received a warm welcome
similar scene: under the sun’s defying glare, the from QiYing, an influential Chinese official
tombs appear exceptionally serene and sacred. who ruled Canton, whereas Evertt’s successors
failed to form such strong relations with Chinese
In the third row of the third column, lies officials. Everett’s proposal of uniting with
Alexander Hill Everett, the second U.S. Russia and France against British monopoly in
Commissioner to China. The tombstone, built as the Guangdong region was rejected by the U.S.
a mini-obelisk, consists of three pieces of granite president. Further, Everett’s request to enter
masonry with the top built as a tetrahedral the Capital and greet the Emperor was refused
prism. The inscription is engraved on the base, under the pretense from Emperor Daoguang for
with English on the front and Chinese on the having never received any foreign envoys before.
back. The English inscription says, “Alexander Today, it is nothing out of the ordinary for
Hill Everett, Ambassador of the United States foreign delegations to visit a country’s monarch.
of America to China, Born on March 19, 1790, in However, only after 1873 did Emperor Tongzhi
Boston, Massachusetts, Graduated in 1806 from agree to “condescend” himself and greet foreign
the Institute of Cambridge … and passed away on guests in front of Ziguang Pavilion, marking a
June 28, 1847, Age 58.” The Chinese Inscription milestone in China’s foreign affairs policy.
translates, “Tomb of Alexander Everett, Foreign
Minister of the United States of America to On June 28th, 1847, Everett died in Guangzhou
China. Passed Away on the Ninth Day of April, and was buried in Zhugang Mountain. After
Twenty-Ninth Year of Emperor Daoguang, that is, the foreigners’ cemetery was opened to public,
the First Day of May 1849 Years After the Birth of American personnel from the U.S. Embassy
Our Lord, Jesus Christ.” paid their homage to Everett on Chinese
Memorial Day. According to YangCheng Review,
Everett graduated from the Cambridge Institute Brian Goldbeck, former U.S. Consul General
at the age of sixteen and held many high-ranking to Guangdong, once said, “We came on the
political and business offices. Everett was also a Chinese Memorial Day due to respect for the
poet and scholar, having written much poetry and Chinese tradition, as well as commemorating our
literature. Besides, Everett served as ambassador predecessors.” Goldbeck also recited Everett’s
to other nations, including the Russian Empire, poem of 1845, The Young American, which was
Netherlands, and Spain. Long before serving in published prior to his departure. The poem
China, Everett “held his admiration for Chinese expressed Everett’s dedication to promote U.S.-
literature and political affairs,” and “sought to Sino relations, which has flourished from the
study Chinese culture.” bedrock that he has built.
Everett is, in some respects, “a dear friend to Happy if celestial favor
China.” He held many aspirations when serving Smile upon the high endeavor:
in China. However, due to his brief tenure and
unexpected death, scholars consider Everett as an Happy if be thy call
unsuccessful diplomat. Professor James. R. Elkins In the holy cause to fall.
states the following about Everett in the article,
Total Strangers: Lawyers and Poets: “Everett —The Young American, Alexander Everett, 1845
was an active, but undistinguished politician.”
After the conclusion of the Treaty of Wangxia
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 26
