The morning times., 1896-12-28
MINISTER READ DEAD
Well-Known American Diplomat
Dies i'm Paris.
HAD HELD MANY MISSIONS
Was an Active Organizer of Troops
During the Civil War and After
ward Minister to Greece-A
Notable Figure on the European
Diplomatic Stage for Years.

Paris, Dec. -. Gen. John Meredith Read
died this morning from pneumonia.
John Meredith Read, the well known
American dplumatist, WAS born in Phila-
delphia. February 81. 1871 ne being :
son OF former solicitor general of the
United States He received his education
at a military school and at Brown Uni
yerStv, where he received the degree of
A NJ in 1896 lie WAS graduated al the
Albany Law School in lS5s, studied in
ternauonal law in Europe, was admitted
TO the bar in Philadelphia and afterward
removed to Albany, Y. Y.
He was .adjUtant general OF New York
in lS6G-6, and was one or the orIEinators
OF wice-aw political clubs in 1860
He was chairman in April uf the same
year o' tie committee of three to draft
bill in behalf OF New York State, appro-
printing 100000 for The purchase OF
arms and equipments, andhc subsequently,
received thc thanks of the War Department
for his ability and zeal in organizing,
equippIng ana forwarding troops
His Diplomatic Career.
lie was first United States consul gen
eral for France and Algeria, in 1s6973,
and lST0-72 acting consul general for
Germany during the Franco German war
After the war he WAS appointed by gen.
DE CisSey. French minister Of war, To form
and preside over a commission to exam
inc into the dcsirability Of teaching The
English language 10 the French troops.
In November, S73. he was appointed
United States minister. Resident in Greece.
One of his first acts was 20 secure TIN. re
lease uf thc American ship Armenia and
To obtain from the Greek government
a revocnion Of the order n at prohibited
tie sale OF tie Bible in Greece.
uonored by Greece.
During the Russo Turkish war he dis
covered Jhat only one port in Russia was
still open, and he pointed out to Secretary
Evarts the advantages that would accrue
to the commerce Of the Emitted states we're
q grain fleet dispatched from New York
10 that port. The event justified his judl-
ment, since the exports OF cereals from
the United States showed AN increase
within a year OF $4,000 900.
While minister To Greece. he received
the thanks OF his government for his rf-
fectual protect on Of American persons and
interests IN the dangerous crisis Of 1881
SCOG aJterward Congress, from motives of
economy, refused the appropriation Tor
the legation at Athens, and Gen. Read,
believing that the time was I, 0 critical 10
withdraw the mission, carried ii on al his
individual expense until has resignation,
September %, 1879.
In 1881, when, owing in part TO his
efforts after his resignation, the territory
that had been adjudged to Greece had
been finally transferred, King George
created him a knight grand cross Of the
Order II the Redctmer, the highest dignity
I'm the cift If the Greek government.
Gen. Read was president Of the social
science con gresS at Albany, \. Y, ia 1868,
and vice president oftle one at plymouth.
England, in 1872. He was the author Of
an Historical Inquiry Concerning Henry
Hudson, which first threw light upon his
origin, and the sources Of the ideas that
guided that navigator, and contributions
to current literature.