HALDERMAN, John Acoming, diplomatist, born in Missouri, 15 April, 1833. He spent his boyhood in Kentucky, and studied law there, but emigrated to Kansas in 1854. In his new home he opposed slavery, and was successively private secretary to the first governor, judge of the probate court, mayor of Leavenworth two terms, member of both houses of the legislature, and regent of the State university. He was major of the 1st Kansas infantry during the civil war, provost-marshal-general of the western army, on the staff of General Nathaniel Lyon, in 1861, and was mentioned in the official report for "gallant and meritorious conduct" at the battle of Springfield. After the war he travelled extensively. In 1880 he was appointed United States consul at Bangkok, Siam, and subsequently promoted to the post of consul-general by President Garfield. In 1882 he was further advanced to the station of minister resident in Siam. In 1883 Highland university conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. For his endeavors in behalf of civilization in the far east he received the thanks of the Universal postal union. In August, 1885, he resigned his office and returned to the United States. In recognition of his "faithful observance of treaty relations," and of his efforts to suppress a nefarious traffic in spirits under cover of the American flag, his majesty, the king of Siam, honored him with the decoration of knight commander of the most exalted order of the white elephant. King Norodom tendered the investiture of commander of the royal order of Cambodia in appreciation of his efforts to introduce posts and telegraphs into Cambodia and Cochin China. He was honored by the friendship of General Grant, who felt great interest in his mission of peace and justice to Siam, and to the great soldier is ascribed the declaration that the "minister's career in southern Asia was one of the highest successes in American diplomacy."