BARRETT, John, American diplomat and internationalist: b. Grafton, Vt., 28 Nov. 1866. Attended Vermont Academy, Saxton's River, Vt.; Worcester (Mass.) Academy, and was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H„ 1889, having in the meantime taken one year's course (1888), at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. Professor of English, Hop kins' Academy, Oakland, Cal., 1889-90, and connected with newspapers of San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, Ore., 1890-94. When assistant editor Evening Telegram, Port land, Ore., he was appointed United States Minister to Siam, 1894, where he settled the famous Cheek case involving several millions of dollars and interpretation of United States treaties in Asia, for which he was specially thanked by the President of the United States. He also made special official visits to Japan, Korea and China, but resigned as Minister in 1898 to go as special correspondent to the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Appointed delegate United States Second Pan American Conference, Mexico, 1901; Commis sioner-General,. Saint Louis Exposition, to
foreign countries, 1902-03; United States Min ister to Argentina, 1903-04; United States Min ister to Panama, 1904-05; United States Minister to Colombia, 1906. In 1907 was elected by unanimous vote of 21 Ameri can governments Director-General of the Pan American Union .(q.v.), the official inter national organization maintained in Washing ton by the American republics for the develbp ment of commerce, friendship and peace. He was elected first honorary member American Asiatic Society, New York, was founder of Pan-American Society of the United States, and has been given special degrees by universi ties in the United States and Latin America for work in behalf of Pan-Americanism. Is author of 'Admiral George Dewey' (1899); 'Pan American Union — Peace, Friendship, Com merce' (1911) • 'Panama Canal' (1913), also of books on A'siatic and Latin American sub jects.