Washington, Treaty of

Washington, Treaty of,

May, 1871, agreement concluded between the United States and Great Britain in Washington, D.C. Its principal articles provided for determination of the Alabama claimsAlabama claims,
claims made by the U.S. government against Great Britain for the damage inflicted on Northern merchant ships during the American Civil War by the Alabama
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 by an international commission. The treaty also provided for arbitration of the San Juan Boundary DisputeSan Juan Boundary Dispute,
controversy between the United States and Great Britain over the U.S.–British Columbia boundary. It is sometimes called the Northwest Boundary Dispute.
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 and of the Canadian-American fisheries controversy. Hamilton FishFish, Hamilton,
1808–93, American statesman, b. New York City, grad. Columbia, 1827; son of Nicholas Fish (1758–1833). He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1830.
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, who was chiefly responsible for bringing about the treaty, headed the five American commissioners in the negotiations. The British delegation was led by the 2d earl (later 1st marquess) of Ripon.