Fish, Hamilton 1808-93
US politician

Born in New York City, he graduated from Columbia College and was admitted to the Bar in 1830. After serving as a senator from New York (1851-57), he negotiated treatment and exchanges of prisoners in the Civil War. As Secretary of State (1869-77) under Ulysses S Grant he proved himself an exceptionally skilful and far-sighted diplomat, partially redeeming an otherwise lacklustre administration. He improved relations between the USA and Great Britain, negotiating the Treaty of Washington (1871), and resolving the Alabama claims. He also sought to limit US expansionism and to ensure neutrality towards Cuba, and when Spanish authorities executed US sailors aboard a Cuban-owned ship, he prevented the incident from escalating into war.