John L. Waller

John L. Waller

John Lewis Waller (January 12, 1850 – 1907) was an African-American lawyer, politician, journalist, publisher, businessman, military leader and diplomat whose rise to prominence resulted in him becoming the United States consul to Madagascar. He was the grandfather of Negro World editor, poet, composer and lyricist Andy Razaf.

Waller was born to enslaved parents in New Madrid County, Missouri. At the end of the U.S. Civil War, he moved with his family to a farm in Tama County, Iowa. He began his education in 1863 which was completed when he graduated from high school in Toledo, Iowa.

Political career

Waller entered politics while living in Iowa. Working as a barber while living in Cedar Rapids, He was permitted to use the law library of Judge N.M. Hubbard. He passed the bar in October 1877. On May 1 of the next year he moved to Topeka, Kansas in response to Pap Singleton's call for African-Americans to colonize the state.

Publisher

The 'Western Recorder' was a newspaper founded on March 10, 1882 by Waller. It continued publication until 1885 in Lawrence, Kansas. Waller and his cousin Anthony Morton established "The American Citizen" during February 1888 in Topeka.

Consul to Madagascar

In 1888, Waller became the first African-American Presidential elector, supporting the Republican ticket. He was given the responsibility to transport the results of the Kansas vote to Washington, D.C. that year.

Following an unsuccessful campaign to become Kansas state auditor, Waller was appointed as U.S. Consul to Madagascar in 1891. When his service there had concluded, the island's monarchy bestowed upon him a concession consisting of 150,000 acres (610 km2) on the southern end of the island lush with mahogany, ebony, rosewood and rubber trees.[1] He developed the land into a thriving industry.

After France entered into a treaty with the Malagasy government, the French Resident objected to the granting of the concession without their permission. Waller was arrested and accused by the French of being a spy providing military information to the Hovas. Apparently, they perceived Waller's success in developing his concession as infringing on their efforts to colonize the island. As a result Waller was court-martialed and sentenced to twenty years in prison. Congressional resolutions led to U.S. President Grover Cleveland demanding Waller be set free. He was released after ten months' incarceration in Marseille. The concession he held was considered invalid by the French and confiscated by them.

Later life

Waller died in New York in 1907.

References

  1. ↑ "Ex Consul to Madagascar Given Land". Cleveland Gazette. Retrieved 8 June 2012.

External links