KAS'SON, JOHN Antat (1822—). An Ameri can diplomat, born at Charlotte. Vt., of Scotch Irish ancestry. He graduated at the University of Vermont in 1842, taught school for a year in Virginia, and then read law in the office of Emory Washburn at Worcester, Mass., where he was admitted to the bar and practiced for some years. Removing to the West, he settled in 1857 in lowa, where he entered politics, and in 1560, as chairman of the Republican State Committee, managed the Lincoln campaign. In recognition of his services Lincoln appointed him First As sistant Postmaster-General. In 1863 he was sent as United States Commissioner to the first Inter national Postal Congress at Paris. From 1863 to 1867 he was a Republican member of Con gress from Iowa, and in the latter year was again sent to Europe as a special commissioner. where he concluded postal treaties with six different nations. From 1868 to 1873 he was a member of the Iowa State Legislature, and from 1873 to 1877 again sat in Congress, leaving his seat in the latter year to accept the post of Minister to Austria-Hungary, tendered him by President Hayes. He returned to America in 1881, was again sent to Congress, was reelected in 1883,, and before his term was completed was named by President Arthur. in 1884, Minister to Ger
many, where, before his recall by President Cleve land in 1885, lie served also as the United States. representative at the International Congo Con ference at Berlin. In 18S7 he was president of the International Constitutional Centennial Com mission at Philadelphia, and in 1889 was chair man of the United States Commission to the International Samoan Conference at Berlin. llis diplomatic experience and his knowledge of tariff problems, in which he had taken particular in terest during his Congressional career, led in 1897 to his appointment as commissioner pleni potentiary to negotiate reciprocity treaties with foreign powers under the provisions of the Ding ley Act. In 1898 he was a member of the Ameri can-Canadian Joint high Commission. In addi tion to numerous essays and speeches, he pub lished "A History of the Monroe Doctrine," in the North American. Review (1881), and a History of the Formation of the United States Constitution