“ In 1871 he was one of the commissioners who negotiated and signed the Treaty of Washington with Great Britain. During the ‘Alabama Claims’ arbitration he was successful in securing the adoption by the tribunal of a provision which relieved the United States from responsibility for indirect damages arising out of the Fenian raids and Cuban filibustering expeditions. ”

“ Early in 1862 he was appointed, with Bishop Ames, a commissioner to proceed to Richmond and other Southern cities within the Confederate lines to relieve Federal prisoners; and although the Confederate authorities refused to allow them to proceed, the negotiations that followed resulted in an arrangement for the exchange of prisoners that was continued throughout the Civil War. In March, 1869, Fish was appointed Secretary of State, and served through both of Grant's administrations, retiring in 1877. ”

“ FISH, Hamilton (1808-93) . An American statesman. He was born in New York City, graduated at Columbia College in 1827, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. In 1842 he was elected to Congress as a Whig. In 1846 he was the Whig nominee for Lieutenant-Governor on the same ticket with John Young for Governor. During the campaign Fish antagonized the 'anti-renters' (see Anti-Rentism) , with the result that, although the Whig ticket was generally successful, he himself was defeated. ”