Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891)
U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Union Spymaster, & Founder of Sanford, Florida, etc.
He was named for his uncle, Henry Shelton, of Cuba & New York, and lived at Woodbury, Connecticut. He made his fortune manufacturing brass tacks with his father and served as a Senator in the Connecticut Senate. After traveling extensively for his health he pursued a career in the diplomatic service. In 1847, he was appointed Secretary of the American Legation in St. Petersburg. In 1848, he was Acting Secretary of the American Legation in Frankfort, and in 1849, he received his law degree from Heidelberg University. That same year he was appointed Secretary of the American Legation in Paris. He arranged the first postal convention between the United States and France and in 1853 he wrote "The Penal Codes of Europe" which was published by Congress. Appointed Charge d'Affaires at Paris, in 1855 he accepted the Aves Island Case, a protracted lawsuit against Venezuela regarding the rights to a Caribbean Guano island that was more than likely connected to his uncle, Philo Strong Shelton, of Boston.
In 1861, he was appointed U.S. Minister to Belgium by President Lincoln, residing at Château de Gingelom. During the Civil War, he organized and oversaw a surveillance network in England and France. He co-ordinated northern secret service operations, organized the purchase of supplies for the Union, and on behalf of Secretary of State William H. Steward, offered the Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi a Union command.
In 1869, he purchased Oakley Plantation in Plaquemine, Louisiana, as an investment in the sugar industry. The following year, he purchased 23-square miles (14,720-acres) in central Florida and founded what is now the City of Sanford. In 1873, at "Belair" (his plantation in Sanford), he imported and experimented with 149-varieties of citrus and sub-tropical plants, and in 1880 he organized the Florida Land & Colonization Company in London.
In 1876, he was appointed Delegate to the conference that created the African International Association which with his help led to the creation of the Congo Free State under the Belgian King Leopold II. Despite its name, Leopold ran the Congo as his own personal fiefdom and the slavery system that prevailed under his administration - and the resulting loss of life - became one of the greatest international scandals of the era. In 1877, Sanford was created a Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold. In 1886, he organized and funded the Sanford Exploring Expedition to open up trade in the interior of the Congo, and his steamboats 'Florida' and 'New York' were the first commercial steamers to penetrate the waters of the Upper Congo. In 1890, he was appointed the U.S. envoy to the Anti-Slavery Conference in Brussels, lobbying for the abolition of the liquor and slave trade in the Congo. He died the following year in 1891. In 1864, he married Gertrude, daughter of John DuPuy of Philadelphia. They were the parents of seven children (listed) and among others were the grandparents of the OSS Operative & Socialite, Gertrude Sanford Legendre.
In 1861, he was appointed U.S. Minister to Belgium by President Lincoln, residing at Château de Gingelom. During the Civil War, he organized and oversaw a surveillance network in England and France. He co-ordinated northern secret service operations, organized the purchase of supplies for the Union, and on behalf of Secretary of State William H. Steward, offered the Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi a Union command.
In 1869, he purchased Oakley Plantation in Plaquemine, Louisiana, as an investment in the sugar industry. The following year, he purchased 23-square miles (14,720-acres) in central Florida and founded what is now the City of Sanford. In 1873, at "Belair" (his plantation in Sanford), he imported and experimented with 149-varieties of citrus and sub-tropical plants, and in 1880 he organized the Florida Land & Colonization Company in London.
In 1876, he was appointed Delegate to the conference that created the African International Association which with his help led to the creation of the Congo Free State under the Belgian King Leopold II. Despite its name, Leopold ran the Congo as his own personal fiefdom and the slavery system that prevailed under his administration - and the resulting loss of life - became one of the greatest international scandals of the era. In 1877, Sanford was created a Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold. In 1886, he organized and funded the Sanford Exploring Expedition to open up trade in the interior of the Congo, and his steamboats 'Florida' and 'New York' were the first commercial steamers to penetrate the waters of the Upper Congo. In 1890, he was appointed the U.S. envoy to the Anti-Slavery Conference in Brussels, lobbying for the abolition of the liquor and slave trade in the Congo. He died the following year in 1891. In 1864, he married Gertrude, daughter of John DuPuy of Philadelphia. They were the parents of seven children (listed) and among others were the grandparents of the OSS Operative & Socialite, Gertrude Sanford Legendre.
