Schäffer affair

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

This article is about an event involving Georg Anton Schäffer in the 19th century. For the affair involving the first Bavarian Minister-President after World War II, see Fritz Schäffer.

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

The Schäffer affair was an incident between 1815-1817 when Georg Anton Schäffer attempted to take the Hawaiian Islands for the Russian-American Company, and therefore the Russian Empire. In 1815 Schäffer sailed to Kingdom of Hawaii to retrieve the Company goods seized by Kaumualii, chief of Kauai island. A simple mission led by an inexperienced but ambitious physician unfolded into a major blunder for the Company. Kaumualii, who sought outside help in his domestic rivalry with king Kamehameha, invited Schäffer to his island and manipulated him into believing that the RAC could easily take over and colonize Hawaii. Schäffer, "losing all touch with reality",[1] planned a full-blown naval assault of the rest of Hawaiian islands and sought support for his "conquest" in Saint Petersburg. Mounting resistance of Native Hawaiians and American traders forced Schäffer to admit defeat and leave Hawaii in July 1817, before his triumphant reports from Kauai reached the Russian court. The Company recognized a loss of no less than 200,000 rubles but continued entertaining "The Hawaiian project" until 1821. The Company then sued Schäffer for damages, but after an inconclusive legal standoff found it easier to let him go back to Germany.

Background

File:Georg Anton Schäffer.jpg
Georg Anton Schäffer.

The Russian-American Company had since 1804 maintained "more or less regular ties",[1] with the Hawaiian king Kamehameha I.[2] Governor Alexander Andreyevich Baranov arranged an exploratory expedition to the islands in 1808 under Ludwig von Hagemeister. Hagemeister proposed purchase or outright takeover of Hawaiian land, but this opportunity was not followed and the business was limited to irregular purchases of foodstuffs, salt and sandalwood.[1] Archibald Campbell was present on the voyage reported that the Russian planned to "form a settlement upon these islands", although Campbell "never observed that any other steps were taken in this affair."[3] After the visit of Hagemeister, King Kamehameha contacted Baranov about a visit to New Archangel to establish a formal commercial treaty with the RAC.[4]

On January 30, 1815 a Company ship, Bering, dropped anchor near Waimea,[5] with an estimated 100,000 roubles worth of furs.[1] Captain James Bennett intended to use the ship's cargo to purchase foodstuffs for Russian settlers in Alaska.[5] On the next night Bering ran aground in a storm; two months later the stranded crew was evacuated from Kauai by Albatross.[5] Bennett reported that the ship and its cargo was seized by chief Kaumualii[1][5][6] (King Tomari in contemporary Russian sources[1]). Bennett and two other American captains employed by the Company pressed Baranov to wage an armed punitive expedition against Kaumualii.[1] The proposal stirred long discussions between Baranov and his deputies; Baranov clearly favored a peaceful solution.[7]

Arrival at Hawaii

The island of Kauai, domain of chief Kaumualii and Schäffer's original target.

Baranov dispatched a mission to Hawaii in October 1815, with physician Georg Schäffer in full command.[8]:91–95 Why Schäffer was chosen to lead the expedition remains a mystery; it was perhaps due to Baranov simply having no one else eligible to send at the time.[1] He instructed Schäffer to present himself as a harmless explorer and obtain Kamehameha's favor. After courting the monarch, Schäffer was to demand compensation for the looted shipwreck in Hawaiian goods such as sandalwood. If this business proceeded smoothly, Schäffer was to seek Kamehameha's patent for a monopoly in sandalwood trading. Baranov's letter politely warned Kamehameha that a failure of Schaffer's mission would leave him no choice but an armed incursion against Kaumualii.[1] The true nature of Schäffer's mission remains disputed, but scholars agree that Baranov wanted it to remain secret.[5]

Schäffer reached Hawaii on board the Isabella in the beginning of November 1815. What happened between Kamehameha and Schäffer is known only through Schaffer's own unreliable narrative.[9] According to Schäffer, the influence of John Young, who was certain that Schäffer's "naturalist" persona was merely a cover,[5] and American skippers made Kamehameha display outright anti-Russian sentiment. By the end of December 1815 however, Schäffer had through medical services to the king and queen Ka'ahumanu, restored Kamehameha's good disposition.[1][5] Schäffer was granted parcels of land and permission to set up trading stations, by either King Kamehameha[1][5] or Queen Ka'ahumanu and her brother.[10] After building a small house on Hawaii Island, he began an exploration of Hawaiian islands. According to Schäffer, his travels were interrupted by attempts made against his life by Americans.[1] He then began to reside on Oahu, "where the people are better disposed to foreigners."[1]

At about the same time, in February 1816, Baranov sent reinforcement - the Otkrytie with lieutenant Podushkin in command.[1] Baranov's orders to Podushkin are thought to be take the whole island of Kauai into Russian possession if Schäffer had failed,[1] or to merely deliver thirty Aleuts into Schäffer's disposal and then proceeding further on his own business.[5] Podushkin reached Oahu in May 1816; another Russian ship, Ilmen, unexpectedly showed up for repairs at the same time.[11] Schäffer remained in command of all Russian forces in the area, now having the two ships that, according to Hagemeister, were all that was necessary to seize Hawaii.[1] Schäffer and Podushkin arranged the final meeting with Kamehameha who again resisted extortion; the Russians immediately set sail for Kauai and reached their target on May 16 [O.S. May 8] 1816.[1]

Illusion of a conquest

Fort Elizabeth, 1817.

Five days later Schäffer "apparently achieved the impossible": rebellious Kaumualii humbly pledged allegiance to the Tsar of Russia on behalf of all Hawaiian islands, agreed to reimburse the Company for the losses of 1815 and granted it a monopoly in sandalwood trade.[1] The chief himself, dressed in Podushkin's uniform, hoisted the flag of the Russian-American Company over Kauai.[12] Another treaty, signed in July, provided the Russians with 500 local soldiers for the conquest of Oahu, Lanai, Maui and Molokai: "The King (Kaumualii) provides Doctor Schäffer carte blanche for this expedition and all assistance in constructing the fortresses on all islands... and he will refrain from all trade with citizens of the State (sic) of America".[1] Schäffer was given command of over three hundred Hawaiians, to begin construction of the forts and trade stations specified in the treaty.[5] Built in the traditional European star-shaped fortress out of stone and adobe, Fort Elizabeth was by the end of Schäffer's Hawaiian adventure practically complete and armed with cannons.[5] Schäffer also laid down two small earthen forts, Alexander and Barclay-de-Tolly, without Hawaiian assistance.[5]

Enthusiastically Schäffer sent messages to Baranov and to imperial authorities in Saint Petersburg, requesting a naval expedition to protect his position in the Hawaiian Islands.[1] He provided Kaumualii with two new ships, with the Avon being worth twice as much as the merchandise taken by Kuamualii in 1815 (worth between 100,000[1] to 200,000 rubles.[5] However, Kaumualii had no intention to forfeit his possessions; he manipulated Schäffer into "losing all touch with reality" and used the Russians for his own benefit in his standoff with Kamehameha, planning to conquer more islands.[1] Early historians, starting with Otto von Kotzebue,[13] suggested that Kaumualii's revolt was prompted or even led by Schäffer[14] but, according to Mills, the chief "sought to align himself with any foreign power that could help him".[15] During the War of 1812 he sided with the Americans, but by 1815 this alliance fell apart and Schäffer's arrival conveniently filled the empty slot in Kaumualii's plans.[15] Baranov wasn't inclined to finance such a war; he denied payment for the purchase of Avon and warned Schäffer against further political and business blunders.[1]

Defeat and surrender

Schäffer spent the summer of 1816 exploring Kauai; he invented Russian names to local landforms but named the finest of them, the Hanalei River valley, in German: Schäfferthal.[10] Breakup of his "empire" began in September 1816 when he had to evacuate the colony in Oahu, yielding to the threat of force.[1] In December 1816 Schäffer received an unexpected "reinforcement": the Russian military brig Rurick captained by Otto von Kotzebue dropped anchor at Hawaii in the middle of a circumnavigation. Kamehameha, unaware of Kotzebue's true disposition, manned the coast with 400 soldiers[1] or volunteers,[16]) ready to repel the expected landing. Kotzebue managed to persuade the king of his peaceful intentions, and made it clear that the Imperial government has nothing to do with Schäffer's delusions; he left without ever visiting his compatriots on Kauai.[10][16]

The standoff between Kaumualii and Kamehameha continued; the king was now supported by the Americans who allegedly promised him five ships to be used against Kaumualii and his Russian allies.[1] American traders even tried to pull down the Russian flag raised on Kauai and were repelled by Kaumualii's guards.[10] June 29 [O.S. June 17] 1817, according to Schaffer's records, all his American employees excluding George Young, the skipper of Kadyak,[17] changed sides and deserted him.[1] Local Hawaiians "bundled Schäffer into a boat" and tried to force him out of Kauai, but he returned and was then forced to board one of his ships.[10] Only then did Schäffer admit his defeat; he dispatched George Young to bring seaworthy Ilmen to Sitka[17] and then sailed to Honolulu on the crippled, leaky Kadyak.[1] The Kadyak entered Honolulu harbor with either the white flag of surrender[1] or the Russian flag flying upside down, a sign of distress.[10] Kamehameha's chiefs warned the Russians that they would immediately arrest Schäffer, but did not act on their claim.[10] According to Schäffer's deputy Taranov, the change in attitude was influenced by the Americans seeking to salvage prized sandalwood from the holds of the sinking Kadyak.[17]

On July 19 [O.S. July 7] 1817 Schäffer forever left Hawaii for Canton, courtesy of his former patient captain Isaiah Lewis.[17][18] Between sixty and one hundred[16] Russians and Aleuts from the Kadyak were left stranded on Oahu until the spring of 1818.[16] Schäffer reached Macau where he received support from Anders Ljungstedt,[16] a Swede who occasionally worked for the Russian-American Company.[19] Ljungstedt arranged Schäffer's travel to Rio de Janeiro, from where he embarked to Europe.[19] During his brief stay in Rio Schäffer obtained an audience with princess Maria Leopoldina, and presented his unique collection of natural exhibits from the Hawaii.[20] The princess who soon became Queen of Brazil remembered the gift and remained a supporter of Schäffer in his Brazilian ventures.

Immediate aftermath

The "Hawaiian spectacular performed by Doctor Schäffer" cost the Russian-American Company, between 200,000[1] and 230,000 rubles.[4][16] The economic waste caused by Schäffer has been noted, with Americans profiteered by supplying Russian America from Hawaii while the RAC was unable to exert control over the islands.[16] The Company left substantial supplies on Kauai and the managers in Sitka seriously considered sending another armed expedition to repossess them.[16]

The Board of the Company in Saint Petersburg received the first news of the Hawaiian affair in the spring of 1817 and on March 22 (April 3) instructions were sent to Baranov to dismiss Schäffer as soon as he completed his mission.[1] The board openly distrusted the German and feared the international complications that could hurt the core business. Schäffer's victorious reports of his treaty with Kuamualii were delivered to Saint Petersburg in August, and around the same time European newspapers picked up rumors of Russian expansion in the Pacific.[1] The directors of the Company now considered supporting Schäffer, but government approval depended on the opinion of foreign minister Karl Nesselrode who in turn relied on the opinion of Count von Liven, the ambassador in London.[1]

While waiting for Nesselrode's response, the board began drafting business plans for Schäffer, who was then already on his way to China. In December 1817 Nesselrode received von Liven's report from London: according to the ambassador, the disadvantages and risks of a Russian protectorate over Kauai outweighed any possible gains.[1] On March 8 [O.S. February 24] 1818 Nesselrode announced an unfavorable opinion on "Doctor Schaffer's thoughtless ventures", with Tsar Alexander concurring, consequentially state support to the Company's operations in Hawaii was denied.[1] The Tsar "did not think it expedient" to establish a protectorate over Kauai, sending orders to the RAC "to refuse the king's request in as friendly a way as possible..."[4] Emperor Alexander however sent a medal of the Order of St. Anna to Kaumualii, inscribed to the "Chief of the Sandwich Islands".[4]

The directors, however, petitioned the government for at least an approval of their limited presence in the Hawaii, which was granted in August 1818.[21] In the same month Kotzebue returned to Saint Petersburg, bringing bad news of the events that happened more than a year before; the directors received letters from Schäffer himself, the most recent dated April 1818, from Rio de Janeiro.[1] In a memorandum to the Minister of the Interior in 1818, Schäffer stressed the importance of controlling the profitable Hawaiian markets. The Board of Directors was requested its opinion of pursuing such a project, agreeing that Hawaiian supplies would be of critical use to settlements in Russian America, Okhotsk and on the Kamcatka Peninsula.[4] As before, the RAC refused to act on the proposal until authorised by the Imperial government. Tsar Alexander approved the company efforts to develop commercial relations with the Kingdom, but again demurred from erecting a Russian protectorate over the Hawaiian islands, finding "the hope of the establishment of the Russians on one of the Sandwich Islands has very little foundation..."[4]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 Bolkhovitinov, Nikolay. Adventures of Doctor Schäffer in Hawaii, 1815-1819. Hawaiian Journal of History 7 (1973) pp. 55–78.
  2. ↑ Bolkhovitinov 1997, p. 276-277, describes the contacts between captain Yuri Lisyansky and Kamehameha. The king displayed interest in purchasing seagoing ships and selling foodstuffs to the Company.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Archibald. A voyage round the world, from 1806 to 1812. New York City: Wan Winkle, Wiley and Co. 1817, pp. 80-81.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Alexander, W. D. Proceedings of the Russians on Kauai. 1814-1816. Papers of the Hawaiian Historical Society No. 6 (1894), pp. 1-21.
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Mills (2002), pp. 23-26.
  6. ↑ Mills, p. 110, writes that plundering of shipwrecks and burning houses was a normal Hawaiian custom.
  7. ↑ Bolkhovitinov 1997, p. 281
  8. ↑ Khlebnikov, K.T., 1973, Baranov, Chief Manager of the Russian Colonies in America, Kingston: The Limestone Press, ISBN 0919642500
  9. ↑ Bolkhovitinov 1997, pp. 282-283, outlines gaping inconsistencies in Schaffer's medical records and concludes that his business reports were even less reliable. English translations added further errors, reinforcing the feeling of unreliability.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Daws, Gavan. Shoal of time: a history of the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. 1968, pp. 51–53. ISBN 0-8248-0324-8, ISBN 978-0-8248-0324-7.
  11. ↑ Russian: Ильмень - Bolkhovitinov 1998, p. 289; incorrectly rendered as Il'mena in the 1973 English edition.
  12. ↑ Mills, p. 112
  13. ↑ Mills, pp. 34-35, discusses the reasons why Kotzebue or his translator Juan Elliot de Castro could have made this error.
  14. ↑ Mills, pp. 33-44, provides a bibliography of historians who explored the subject and traces the change in their understanding of events.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mills, pp. 106-107
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 Mills (2002), pp. 28-30.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Bolkhovitinov 1997, p. 289
  18. ↑ Full name of Lewis as in Mills, p. 28 and Daws, p. 53; Bolkhovitinov provides only initials.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Bolkhovitinov 1997, p. 297.
  20. ↑ Gomes, Angela Maria de Castro. Histórias de imigrantes e de imigração no Rio de Janeiro. 7Letras. 2002, p. 17  ISBN 85-7388-222-0, ISBN 978-85-7388-222-3 (Portuguese)
  21. ↑ Bolkhovitinov 1973, p. 67.

Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Schäffer_affair&oldid=2997816"