The New International Encyclopædia/Slidell, John

SLIDELL, John (1793-1871). An American politician, born in New York City. He graduated at Columbia College in 1810. In 1819 he removed to New Orleans and from 1829 to 1833 was United States District Attorney for Louisiana. In December, 1853, he became United States Senator, but resigned upon the secession of Louisiana from the Union. In September, 1861, he was appointed commissioner of the Confederate States to France, and ran the blockade from Charleston, S. C. At Havana, with James M. Mason, commissioner to England, he embarked upon the British mail steamer Trent, which was overhauled on November 8th by Captain Charles Wilkes in the United States sloop San Jacinto, and the envoys and their secretaries were arrested and confined for a time in Fort Warren, Boston. Upon the demand of England the act of Captain Wilkes was disavowed and the commissioners sailed for England January 1, 1862. (See Trent Affair.) Mr. Slidell failed in securing the assent of France to the convention giving to that nation control of Southern cotton if the blockade should be broken, but was permitted to begin negotiations for the £15,000,000 Confederate loan. At the close of the war Slidell settled in England.