American Revolutionary War Midshipman, Barbary Slave, and Early American Diplomat.
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From the Louisiana History Assn.
CATHCART, James L., seaman, diplomat, naval agent in Louisiana. Born, Ireland, June 1, 1767; son of Malcolm Hamilton Cathcart. Brought to the United States as a child by Capt. John Cathcart; in October 1779 was a midshipman in the United States Navy; captured by the British and held prisoner until escape in March 1782; served on a merchant vessel which was captured by an Algerine ship in July 1785; while a prisoner became a clerk in captor's marine service and helped to arrange a treaty in 1795 for the release of prisoners. Appointed United States consul at Tripoli, July 10, 1797. Married Jane Bancker Woodside of Philadelphia, Pa., June 5, 1798. Twelve children. Served as consul in Tunis, 1803, Madeira, 1807-1815, and Cádiz, 1815-1817. Commissioned November 4, 1818, as navy agent for the survey and protection of timber in Louisiana and the Alabama Territory suitable for naval purposes; conducted a six-week survey along Bayou Teche; kept a detailed journal and report of the survey, published in the Louisiana Historical Quarterly in 1945. Daughter, Mrs. Jane B. Newkirk, compiled and published in 1899 and 1901 the journal of the Algerine captivity and a volume of his official correspondence; was employed in the United States Treasury Department for the last twenty years of his life. Died, Washington, D. C., October 6, 1843. J.B.C. Sources: Walter Pritchard et al., eds., "Southern Louisiana and Southern Alabama in 1819: The Journal of James Leander Cathcart," Louisiana Historical Quarterly, XXVIII (1945); Allen Johnson, ed., Dictionary of American Biography (1929), III.
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From the Louisiana History Assn.
CATHCART, James L., seaman, diplomat, naval agent in Louisiana. Born, Ireland, June 1, 1767; son of Malcolm Hamilton Cathcart. Brought to the United States as a child by Capt. John Cathcart; in October 1779 was a midshipman in the United States Navy; captured by the British and held prisoner until escape in March 1782; served on a merchant vessel which was captured by an Algerine ship in July 1785; while a prisoner became a clerk in captor's marine service and helped to arrange a treaty in 1795 for the release of prisoners. Appointed United States consul at Tripoli, July 10, 1797. Married Jane Bancker Woodside of Philadelphia, Pa., June 5, 1798. Twelve children. Served as consul in Tunis, 1803, Madeira, 1807-1815, and Cádiz, 1815-1817. Commissioned November 4, 1818, as navy agent for the survey and protection of timber in Louisiana and the Alabama Territory suitable for naval purposes; conducted a six-week survey along Bayou Teche; kept a detailed journal and report of the survey, published in the Louisiana Historical Quarterly in 1945. Daughter, Mrs. Jane B. Newkirk, compiled and published in 1899 and 1901 the journal of the Algerine captivity and a volume of his official correspondence; was employed in the United States Treasury Department for the last twenty years of his life. Died, Washington, D. C., October 6, 1843. J.B.C. Sources: Walter Pritchard et al., eds., "Southern Louisiana and Southern Alabama in 1819: The Journal of James Leander Cathcart," Louisiana Historical Quarterly, XXVIII (1945); Allen Johnson, ed., Dictionary of American Biography (1929), III.
American Revolutionary War Midshipman, Barbary Slave, and Early American Diplomat.
-------------------------
From the Louisiana History Assn.
CATHCART, James L., seaman, diplomat, naval agent in Louisiana. Born, Ireland, June 1, 1767; son of Malcolm Hamilton Cathcart. Brought to the United States as a child by Capt. John Cathcart; in October 1779 was a midshipman in the United States Navy; captured by the British and held prisoner until escape in March 1782; served on a merchant vessel which was captured by an Algerine ship in July 1785; while a prisoner became a clerk in captor's marine service and helped to arrange a treaty in 1795 for the release of prisoners. Appointed United States consul at Tripoli, July 10, 1797. Married Jane Bancker Woodside of Philadelphia, Pa., June 5, 1798. Twelve children. Served as consul in Tunis, 1803, Madeira, 1807-1815, and Cádiz, 1815-1817. Commissioned November 4, 1818, as navy agent for the survey and protection of timber in Louisiana and the Alabama Territory suitable for naval purposes; conducted a six-week survey along Bayou Teche; kept a detailed journal and report of the survey, published in the Louisiana Historical Quarterly in 1945. Daughter, Mrs. Jane B. Newkirk, compiled and published in 1899 and 1901 the journal of the Algerine captivity and a volume of his official correspondence; was employed in the United States Treasury Department for the last twenty years of his life. Died, Washington, D. C., October 6, 1843. J.B.C. Sources: Walter Pritchard et al., eds., "Southern Louisiana and Southern Alabama in 1819: The Journal of James Leander Cathcart," Louisiana Historical Quarterly, XXVIII (1945); Allen Johnson, ed., Dictionary of American Biography (1929), III.
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From the Louisiana History Assn.
CATHCART, James L., seaman, diplomat, naval agent in Louisiana. Born, Ireland, June 1, 1767; son of Malcolm Hamilton Cathcart. Brought to the United States as a child by Capt. John Cathcart; in October 1779 was a midshipman in the United States Navy; captured by the British and held prisoner until escape in March 1782; served on a merchant vessel which was captured by an Algerine ship in July 1785; while a prisoner became a clerk in captor's marine service and helped to arrange a treaty in 1795 for the release of prisoners. Appointed United States consul at Tripoli, July 10, 1797. Married Jane Bancker Woodside of Philadelphia, Pa., June 5, 1798. Twelve children. Served as consul in Tunis, 1803, Madeira, 1807-1815, and Cádiz, 1815-1817. Commissioned November 4, 1818, as navy agent for the survey and protection of timber in Louisiana and the Alabama Territory suitable for naval purposes; conducted a six-week survey along Bayou Teche; kept a detailed journal and report of the survey, published in the Louisiana Historical Quarterly in 1945. Daughter, Mrs. Jane B. Newkirk, compiled and published in 1899 and 1901 the journal of the Algerine captivity and a volume of his official correspondence; was employed in the United States Treasury Department for the last twenty years of his life. Died, Washington, D. C., October 6, 1843. J.B.C. Sources: Walter Pritchard et al., eds., "Southern Louisiana and Southern Alabama in 1819: The Journal of James Leander Cathcart," Louisiana Historical Quarterly, XXVIII (1945); Allen Johnson, ed., Dictionary of American Biography (1929), III.
Gravesite Details
Also the father of Charles William Cathcart, a U.S. Congressman and Senator from Indiana.
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