page_title: David Bailey (diplomat)
section_title: Diplomatic career
hierarchical_section_title: David Bailey (diplomat) / Diplomatic career
caption_attribution_description: English: US Consulate General, Shanghai, 1880
context_page_description: David Haworth Bailey was an American diplomat who served for 10 years in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
context_section_description: In 1870, Bailey was appointed United States Consul in Hong Kong where he served until 1878.  In that year he was appointed United States Consul General in Shanghai where he served until 1880.  During that time, former President Grant visited Shanghai and Bailey was responsible for entertaining him. 
  John Singleton Mosby who succeeded Bailey in Hong Kong found discrepancies in his predecessor's recordkeeping, and believed Bailey had colluded with his vice-consul Loring (who Mosby fired), to bilk the government of thousands of dollars in fees. Mosby believed Bailey had pocketed fees charged Chinese emigrants sailing to the U.S. on foreign-flag ships (certifying that they emigrated voluntarily and were not part of notorious "coolie traffic"), and claimed "expenses" for shipboard examinations (by the illiterate proprietor of a local boardinghouse frequented by sailors) of those emigrating on U.S.-flag ships equal to the fees charged. Mosby thought Bailey had almost doubled his salary over the previous eight years by embezzlement and kickbacks, and stopped charging for shipboard examinations (which he personally conducted).
  The investigations into allegation made by Mosby led to Bailey (and US Minister George Seward's) resignations.  In 1884, Bailey was sued by the United States Government for $39,000 to recover fees collected by him but not accounted for.  He made no defence.  At the time he was reported to still be living in Hong Kong.
caption: US Consulate General, Shanghai, 1880.  This picture was sent by Bailey to the State Department in 1880
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