WASHBURN, Charles Ames, .son of Is rael Washburn (q.v.), Atnerican editor and diplomat: b. Livermore, Me., 16 March 1822; d. New York, 26 Jan. 18:39. He was graduated at Bowdoin in 1848, went to California in 1850, entered journalism in San Francisco and be came editor and proprietor of the Alta Califor nia, the first newspaper on the Pacific Coast to. advocate the principles of the Republican party, of which he was one of the organizers in that State. From 1858 to 1861 he was editor and proprietor of the San Francisco Daily Times. In 1860 was chosen elector-at-large, and in the following year was appointed by President Lin coln Minister to Paraguay, a post which he occupied for seven years, covering most of the period of the war between that country and Brazil and her allies. In 1868, under the tyranny of Francisco Solano Lopez (q.v.), many foreigners, as well as Paraguayans, were put to death on an unfounded charge of conspiracy against the government, and Washburn, on ac count of his efforts to save the lives of his associates, was accused of complicity in the plot, His life was preserved through the interven lion of a United States naval force, the gun boat Wasp taking him away from the cotuitry.
Disagreement with certain naval officers grew out of these incidents, and the circumstances were investigated by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The result was Washburn's complete vindication. He published a 'History of Paraguay, with Notes of Personal Observa tions and Reminiscences of Diplomacy under Difficulties' (1871), giving a graphic account of these events; 'From Poverty to Compe tence); 'Graduated Taxation) 'Political Evo lution); and several novels. 'He was the in ventor of a ty,pograph and other mechanical devices.