George Clayton Foulk

George Clayton Foulk
In office 1885–1886
Preceded by	Lucius H. Foote, 1883-1885
Succeeded by	William Harwar Parker, 1886
2nd United States Ambassador to Korea
In office 1886–1887
Personal details
Born	October 30, 1856 Marietta, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	1893 Kyoto, Japan
Cause of death	congestive heart failure
Resting place	Nyakuoji Cemetery, Kyoto, Japan
Spouse(s)	Masura Kane
Relations	Clayton Foulk (father) and Caroline Foulk (mother)
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy
Profession	U.S. Navy officer, U.S. Ambassador, teacher
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1876–1886
Rank	Ensign
Unit	U.S. Naval Attache

George Clayton Foulk (October 30, 1856 – 1893) was United States Navy officer and U.S. Naval Attache to the Kingdom of Korea in 1876, U.S. Minister to the Kingdom of Korea, from 1885-1886 and again, from 1886-1887.

Early life

George Clayton Foulk was born in Marietta, Pennsylvania, son of Clayton and Caroline Foulk.

U.S. Naval Career

George Foulk graduated, from the United States Naval Academy. Foulk in 1876 and went to Asia, on the ship Alert. He made a 427-mile journey, through Japan, then returned to the United States, overland via Korea, Siberia, and Europe. Foulk became fluent, in Japanese and Korean; when a Korean mission arrived, in 1883, he was the only person in Washington, who could interpret, between the two countries. He was appointed U.S. Naval Attache to Korea and after arriving there embarked on two long journeys by sedan chair around the country. On the longer journey, 43 days, his visit included Gongju, Gwangju, Haeinsa, Busan, Daegu, and Mungyeong. A coup occurred in Seoul during the latter part of this journey and the Koreans' hospitality turned to hostility from those who took him to be a Japanese spy.

U.S. Ambassador to Kingdom of Korea

George Foulk served as the Minister to the Kingdom of Korea, from 1885-1886 and again, from 1886-1887. Soon after his relief by William Harwar Parker, Foulk was sent back to Korea after a report reached Washington, D.C. that Parker was a "chronic drunkard" who suffered from alcoholism. The United States government considered the situation so serious that a squadron of naval vessels was diverted to intercept Foulk's passenger liner and return him to Korea as soon as possible.

George Foulk was finally recalled several months later and relieved by Hugh A. Dinsmore, with the U.S. acting, at the behest of the Chinese government. The Chinese were unhappy, with Foulk's attempts, to build up Korea's ability, to counteract Chinese and Japanese influence.

Last years

After his recall, George Foulk became a teacher, at Doshisha College (now Doshisha University), in Kyoto, Japan. On September 7, 1887, he married Japanese national, Masura Kane, with whom he had corresponded while in Korea.

Death

George Foulk died in 1893. He and wife, were buried together, in the Nyakuoji Cemetery, Kyoto.

References

• "Recollections of a Naval Officer", William Harwar Parker (Published 1883)
• America's Man in Korea: The Private Letters of George C. Foulk, 1884–1887, Samuel Hawley, Lexington Books, 2007
• Inside the Hermit Kingdom: The 1884 Travel Diary of George Clayton Foulk by Samuel Hawley

External links

• Guide to the George Clayton Foulk Papers at The Bancroft Library
• Photos and Maps of George C. Foulk's at the American Geographical Society Library, UW Milwaukee