Americans in Egypt, 1770-1915 : Explorers, Consuls, Travelers, Soldiers, Missionaries, Writers and Scientists

The voices of Americans have long been absent from studies of modern Egypt. Most scholars assume that Americans were either not in Egypt in significant numbers during the nineteenth century or had little of importance to say. This volume shows that neither was the case by introducing and relating the experiences and attitudes of 15 American personalities who worked, lived, or traveled in Egypt from the 1770s to the commencement of World War I. Often in their own words, explorers, consuls, tourists, soldiers, missionaries, artists, scientists, and scholars offer a rare American perspective on everyday Egyptian life and provide a new perspective on many historically significant events. The stories of these individuals and their sojourns not only recount the culture and history of Egypt but also convey the domination of the country by European powers and the support for Egypt by a young American nation. Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Preface 12 Introduction 16 1. John Antes: A Forgotten American Voice (Missionary, 1770) 20 2. John Ledyard: The Man Who Walked the World (Explorer, 1788) 35 3. William Eaton: To the Shores of Tripoli (Soldier, 1804–1805) 50 4. Francis Barthow: American Dragoman in Egypt (Explorer, c. 1804–1840) 67 5. George Bethune English and the Egyptian Army Expedition of 1820–21 (Explorer) 84 6. The Gliddons and the Beginning of American-Egyptian Relations (Consular Service, 1832–1840) 106 7. Sarah Rogers Haight Steamin’ to Egypt: The American Traveler Is Born (Traveler, 1836) 123 8. Bayard Taylor’s Twice-Told Tale (Traveler, 1851–1852 and 1874) 136 9. Charles Hale: An Enigma (Consular Service, 1864–1868) 151 10. Charles Chaillé-Long: The Man Who Fought an Empire (Soldier, 1869–1882) 166 11. Ulysses S. Grant: The King of America’s Progress through Egypt (Traveler, 1877) 179 12. Fanny Stone: Diary of an American Girl in Cairo (Soldiers, 1882) 191 13. Anna Young Thompson: Diary of a Trip on the Ibis (Missionary, 1887) 205 14. Walter Granger and the American Museum of Natural History’s Expedition to the Fayoum (Scientist, 1907) 218 15. Theodore M. Davis: America’s Man in the Valley of the Kings (Scientist, 1889–1915) 232 Notes 246 Works Cited 264 Index 274 John Antes : a forgotten American voice (missionary, 1770) John Ledyard : the man who walked the world (explorer, 1788) William Eaton : to the shores of Tripoli (American soldier, 1804-05) Francis Barthow : American dragoman in Egypt (explorer, c. 1804-1840) George Bethune English and the Egyptian Army Expedition of 1820-21 (explorer) The Gliddons and the beginning of American-Egyptian relations (consular service, 1832-1840) Sarah Rogers Haight steamin' to Egypt : the American traveler is born (traveler, 1836) Bayard Taylor's twice-told tale (traveler, 1851-52 and 1874) Charles Hale : an enigma (consular service, 1864-1868) Charles Chaillé-Long : the man who fought an empire (American soldier, 1869-1882) Ulysses S. Grant : the king of America's progress through Egypt (traveler, 1877) Fanny Stone : diary of an American girl in Cairo (American soldiers, 1877) Anna Young Thompson : diary of a trip on the Ibis (missionary, 1887) Walter Granger and the American Museum of Natural History's expedition to the Fayoum (scientist, 1907) Theodore M. Davis : America's man in the Valley of the Kings (scientist, 1889-1915). "Most scholars assume that Americans were either not in Egypt in significant numbers during the nineteenth century or had little of importance to say. Often in their own words, explorers, consuls, tourists, soldiers, missionaries, artists, scientists, and scholars offer a rare American perspective on everyday Egyptian life and provide a new perspective on many historically significant events"--Provided by publisher.