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Joel Barlow: American Diplomat and Nation Builder

Ian Powell

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Joel Barlow was an American diplomat, poet, and nation builder who played a significant role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. He served as a diplomat to France and England, and his writings helped to shape American political thought and foreign policy.

Joel Barlow, American Diplomat and Nation Builder

by Peter P. Hill

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Early Life and Education

Joel Barlow was born on March 24, 1754, in Redding, Connecticut. He was the son of Samuel Barlow, a farmer and justice of the peace, and Ruth Baldwin Barlow. Barlow received his early education at the Redding Academy and then attended Yale College, where he graduated in 1778.

American Revolution

Barlow joined the Continental Army during the American Revolution and served as a chaplain. He was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Saratoga. In 1780, he was appointed as a secretary to General Horatio Gates. Barlow's experiences during the war had a profound impact on his political and social views.

Diplomatic Career

After the war, Barlow embarked on a diplomatic career. In 1788, he was appointed as a consul to France by President George Washington. Barlow served in this position for five years, during which time he played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris (1783),which ended the Revolutionary War.

In 1795, Barlow was appointed as the American minister to England. He served in this position for eight years, during which time he worked to improve relations between the United States and Great Britain. Barlow also played a role in the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Ghent (1814),which ended the War of 1812.

Literary Career

In addition to his diplomatic career, Barlow was also a successful poet. His most famous work, The Columbiad, was published in 1807. The poem is an epic in 10 cantos that celebrates the history and future of the United States. Barlow also wrote a number of other poems, including The Hasty Pudding (1793) and The Conspiracy of Kings (1792).

Nation Building

Barlow was a strong advocate for the development of the United States. He believed that the United States had the potential to become a great nation, and he worked to promote its economic, political, and social development. Barlow was a founder of the American Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge, which was established in 1810 to promote the dissemination of scientific and technological information. He also served as the first president of the American Colonization Society, which was founded in 1816 to promote the colonization of Africa by free blacks from the United States.

Death and Legacy

Joel Barlow died on December 26, 1812, in Zarnowiec, Poland. He was 58 years old. Barlow is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland. Barlow is remembered as a diplomat, poet, and nation builder who played a significant role in the founding of the United States. His writings continue to be studied by scholars and historians today.