Phelps, William Walter, 1839-1894

William Walter Phelps, lawyer, businessman, Republican politician and diplomat. An active Republican politician and a good friend of James G. Blaine, he represented New Jersey in the Forty-third (1873-1875), Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, and Fiftieth Congresses (1883-1889). In 1881-1882, he served as United States minister to Austria. In 1888 President Harrison appointed him as one of the commissioners to represent the United States at the Joint Conference on the Samoan Question, which met in Berlin in 1889. In 1889-1893, he served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Germany.

From the description of Papers of William Walter Phelps, 1800-1925 (bulk 1876-1893). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122386544