Joseph Balestier (19 Mar 1788–12 Nov 1858), was a planter and merchant who was the first

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throug ...

in Rhiau and in

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

. In 1849, he was appointed Envoy and Diplomatic Agent of the United States to South Eastern Asia. Born in

Saint-Pierre, Martinique Saint-Pierre (, ; ; Martinican Creole: ) is a town and commune of France's Caribbean overseas department of Martinique, founded in 1635 by Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc. Before the total destruction of Saint-Pierre by a volcanic eruption in 1902, it ...

, Balestier first arrived in the United states in 1798 and was naturalized as a citizen in March 1809. He was appointed Consul in Rhiau, and left from Philadelphia 27 December 1833 on the ship Arno with his wife Maria Revere and their son Joseph Warren Revere Balestier, arriving in Singapore 16 May 1834. Although he was the Consul to Rhio, he resided in Singapore and became the US Consul to Singapore in 1836 once American ships were given equal trading rights with the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

. In Singapore, he had a large house on a 1,000 acre sugar-cane and cotton plantation, with a plant to manufacture sugar and rum. He served until 1852, although he actually left the country due to ill-health 7 May 1848. Leaving Joseph Harvey Weed as acting US Consul. Balestier returns to Asia in 1850 for the U.S. Diplomatic mission of Amity and Commerce. The USS Plymouth leaves Macao 21 Feb 1850 making stops at Cochin-China, Feb 1850; Bangkok, 24 March; Pulau Subi, 19 May; Kuching, Sarawak, 27 May; Brunei, 23 June; and finally Labuan, 26 June. At Labuan Balestier negotiated a treaty with Brunei, which was ratified by the US Senate on 23 June 1852. Joseph Balestier was a friend of

James Brooke Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak (29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868), was a British soldier and adventurer who founded the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo. He ruled as the first White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until his death in 1868. Brooke was bor ...

, Rajah of

Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the M ...

, from his visit to Singapore in 1839, and wrote an article supporting him when opposition arose in America. Balestier married Maria Revere (1785–1847), daughter of

Paul Revere Paul Revere (; December 21, 1734 O.S. (January 1, 1735 N.S.)May 10, 1818) was an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, Sons of Liberty member, and Patriot and Founding Father. He is best known for his midnight ride to ale ...

, in Boston, Massachusetts in 1814. Maria donated the

Revere Bell The Revere Bell was a gift to Singapore by Mrs. Maria Revere Balestier, the daughter of Paul Revere and wife of the first American Consul to Singapore, Joseph Balestier. Cast by the Revere Copper Company in Boston, Massachusetts, it is the only ...

to St. Andrew's Church in Singapore in 1843. He died in

York, Pennsylvania York ( Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Yarrick''), known as the White Rose City (after the symbol of the House of York), is the county seat of York County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the south-central region of the state. The populati ...

. The area of

Balestier Balestier () is a sub zone located in the planning area of Novena in the Central Region of Singapore. The main road, Balestier Road, links Thomson Road to Serangoon Road and the road continues on as Lavender Street. The area is home to rows ...

in Singapore is named after him and is the site of his sugar plantation. Art Stage Singapore and the Embassy of the United States, Singapore jointly organize the ''Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art'' to honor an artist or curator from the Southeast Asian region who is actively committed to the ideals of liberty and freedom of expression, and through his or her work, continually seeks to express these ideals.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balestier, Joseph 1788 births 1858 deaths Revere family French emigrants to the United States