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SHSU Historian To Discuss Roosevelt Legacy On NPR

Sept. 9, 2014
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt

 

Thomas Cox

Thomas H. Cox, associate professor of history at Sam Houston State University, will be interviewed on an episode of National Public Radio’s daily talk show “Houston Matters” that will air on KUHF 88.7 FM on Friday (Sept. 12), at 12:50 p.m.

Cox will discuss his current research project, “A Man of Quick Perceptions: Warren Delano, Hong Merchants, and Cultures of Commerce in the Old China Trade," which examines Warren Delano II's experiences in the China trade.

Today, Delano is known primarily as the maternal grandfather of Franklin Delano Roosevelt; yet, he also was one of the most successful American traders with China in the early 1800s, according to Cox.

“By venturing east as a young man, Delano hoped to restore his family’s business reputation which had been tarnished in the War of 1812,” Cox said. “This gave him common ground with Cantonese merchants Howqua and Ponqua, who struggled to maintain their family’s business reputations in the wake of economic and social upheaval.

Although publically supporting British efforts to “open” China to free trade in the First Opium War, Delano discreetly traded with Hong merchants, condemned British aggression towards Chinese civilians, and helped negotiate the return of Canton to China.

Delano, accordingly, cultivated long-term relations with Chinese contacts, with whom he would later work to resolve steamboat and railroad disputes.

Accounts of these constructive relationships published in the late 1800s contested prevailing American stereotypes toward China and left an indelible impression on his grandson Franklin, according to Cox.

“As such, Delano’s career provides a window into the complicated relations between early American and Chinese merchants, relationships that would, over time, form much of the basis for future U.S. foreign policy towards Asia,” he said.

The interview is being conducted leading up to next week's premier of the Ken Burns PBS series on the Roosevelts.

It will repeat that evening at 7:50 p.m. and will be available online at houstonpublicmedia.org.

 

 

 

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