| Thomas W. Waldron | |
| Office: | United States Consul to Hong Kong and Macau |
| President: | John Tyler |
| Term Start: | July 21, 1843 |
| Term End: | September 8, 1844 |
| Predecessor: | Office established |
| Successor: | Frederick Busch |
| Birth Name: | Thomas Westbrook Waldron |
| Birth Date: | 1814 5, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | United States |
| Death Place: | Macau |
| Resting Place: | Old Protestant Cemetery, Macau |
| Occupation: | Captain's clerk, U.S. Navy; U.S. Consul to Hong Kong, naval store keeper to the US East India Squadron[1] |
| Parents: | Daniel Waldron and Olive Sheafe |
Thomas Westbrook Waldron (1814–1844) was a captain's clerk[2] on the Wilkes Expedition, and the first United States consul to Hong Kong.[3] His service to the U.S. consular service was honored by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a ceremony in 2009.[4]
Waldron was born May 1, 1814, the youngest of eight children of Daniel Waldron and Olive Huske Sheafe Waldron of Dover, New Hampshire. He was named after his grandfather, Thomas Westbrook Waldron.[5] An older cousin of the same name had moved away prior to his birth.
With his oldest brother Richard Russell Waldron he joined the Wilkes Expedition, which explored a portion of the coast of Antarctica, some of the Pacific islands, and the coast of what is now Washington state. Waldron Glacier in the Antarctic is named after him. Waldron Island is named after him or his brother.[6]
For reasons that are not very clear, in December 1843 he was nominated by President John Tyler to the office of United States consul to Hong Kong.[7] He traveled to neighboring Macau on official business,[3] where he died on September 18, 1844[5] after contracting cholera.[4] He is buried in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Macau.[8] [9]
On May 1, 2009, as part of a ceremony honoring several diplomats who died on duty, he was honored by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[4] A second ceremony occurred the same month at his burial site at the Old Protestant Cemetery, Macau.[3]
Waldron Glacier is named after him. Waldron Island in the San Juan Islands off of Puget Sound is named either after he or his brother Richard. [10]
For the University of Macau'sDistinguished Diplomatic & Consular Speakers' SeriesThursday, May 14, 2009After Signing Ceremony of Renewal of theUMac-USCG Letter of Understanding onthe American Corner at the UMac Library At: http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/cg_jd2009051401.html accessed September 6, 2010