Travers Twiss 1809-1897
Travers Twiss was an English jurist, scholar, and professor of international law whose legal writings served as the primary intellectual defense for British territorial claims during the high-stakes "Oregon Question" border dispute. As American expansionists demanded exclusive control of the Pacific Northwest up to the 54°40' parallel, Twiss published his highly influential 1846 treatise, The Oregon Question Examined, in Respect to Facts and the Law of Nations. By meticulously analyzing early maritime voyages—including those of George Vancouver, Robert Gray, and John Meares—and applying contemporary international law, he robustly argued for British sovereignty and rights of discovery in the Columbia Basin. Although the subsequent 1846 Oregon Treaty ultimately partitioned the region along the 49th parallel in a diplomatic compromise, Twiss's rigorous legal frameworks defined the terms of the trans-Atlantic debate and produced a vital historical record of the competing geopolitical forces that shaped the early Pacific Northwest.
Professor of Political Economy in the University of Oxford
Biographical Overview
- Lived from 1809 to 1897
- Born: Mar 19, 1809, Westminster, London, England
- Died: Jan 14, 1897, London, England
Historical Events
- No referenced events linked
Bibliography for Travers Twiss
A listing of books related by subject
The book covers the period from the early exploration of the region by European explorers to the signing of the Convention of the Escurial in 1846, which settled the territorial dispute between the United States and Great Britain. The book begins by providing an overview of the geography and natural resources of the region, including the Columbia River and its tributaries, the Cascade Mountains, and the fertile Willamette Valley. It then delves into the early exploration and settlement of the territory by Spanish, Russian, and British explorers and traders, as well as the interactions between these groups and the native tribes of the region.The book also covers the territorial dispute between the United States and Great Britain, which began in the early 19th century and was finally resolved by the Convention of the Escurial in 1846. The convention established the 49th parallel as the border between the United States and British North America, and granted the United States control over the Oregon Territory.
264, iv pages + 24 pages publisher's catalogue ; 21 cm
ONLINE Circulation [ 1 ]
Entry Details
Related Online Resources
- No external online resources or related links found
Last updated: 2026-09-30