The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

AMERICAN DIPLOMATS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA 85
Chulalongkorn had personally expressed his regrets and warm feelings
for the late American Minister.ts6
L.A. Eaton, "the sole surviver of the Baptist mission in Siam" in
the 1890's, had come to Siam in 1882. When his term in the American
Legation ended in 1893 he sold the properties of the Baptist mission and
returned to the United States.ts7 His few months as American
representative in Bangkok were notable mainly for the first of many
lengthy despatches on the case of Marion A. Cheek, former missionary
turned businessman and incidentally Eaton's brother-in-law, which was
to become a cause celebre in Thai~American relations in the latter part
of the decade; and for the first despatches on the developing political
crisis between Siam and France, which was to culminate explosively in
the summer of 1893.188
In January of 1893 Eaton received word that Robert M. Boyd, son
of the ailing Sempronius B9yd, had been appointed vice consul-general.
Whether or not Eaton tried to block this appointment is unclear;.in any
case he forwarded the Department of State a petition against the younger
Boyd said to have been signed by all the Americans present in Bangkok.
The petitioners said that they had nothing to say against (or for) Boyd's
personal character but that Boyd, who was only 24, was too young and
inexperienced for an important diplomatic post, and .could hardly be
expected to command the respect of European diplomats like the almost
legendary Auguste Pavie, French Minister in Bangkok at this critical
186) Siam Despatches, August 17, 1894, and November 15, 1894. Prince Devawongse
had earlier written to Boyd concerning, "The office you so worthily
filled." (Siam DesjJatches, April 5, 1893.)
187) Information on Eaton is taken from McFarland, Historical Sketch, pp. 33, 319,
and Wells, History, p. 21, which is so closely based on McFarland as to border
on plagiarism. Eaton was later involved in a lawsuit with the United States
Government. (See notes in Siam Despatches, October 10,.1892.}
188) Siam Despatches, February 6, 189 3; April.8, 18 93; and May 4, 1893; (concerning
a Thai reqilest for American mediation. For the American reply rejecting
the request, see Secretary of State Gresham to Phra Suriya, May 18, 1893, in
National Archives (Washington), Notes to Foreign Legations b1 the United States
from the Department of State (microfilm), Siam, 1888-1906.)