Who was George Pomuț, the Romanian who was involved in the acquisition of the state of Alaska from the Russians by the USA
In 1867, the US purchased the state of Alaska from the Russian Empire for $ 7.2 million ($ 129 million in 2023). George Pomuț, Romanian-American general, participated in the negotiations.
George Pomuț/Photo: Wikipedia
The period 1740-1800 was one marked by Russian incursions in Alaska, a distant area, but of great value due to the zibeline fur. During this period, the fur trade brought about 10% of the revenues of the Russian Empire, and the enthusiasm of the Russians to colonize these territories was obvious. Russian commander Grigori Selihov was the one who, in 1784, set up the first permanent settlement on the island of Kodiak, but his ambitions were not supported by the Imperial Court.
Over the decades, the logistical challenges and the lack of resources eroded the Russian colonization. In addition, the competition from Great Britain and a series of diplomatic failures, including a test negotiation with Spain, undermined the ambitions of the Russian Empire.
The settlement of the Fort Ross in California, south of Alaska, was Russia's last expanding attempt, but due to economic and internal instability, this outpost could not survive long.
It began to become obvious that Alaska was an expensive territory to maintain and that Russia could not defend it, especially in the face of a possible threat from Great Britain, which already controls almost the entire western coast of North America.
In 1841, Russia sold Fort Ross to an Swiss emigrant John Sutter, and in 1867 the official sale of Alaska to the United States took place for $ 7.2 million, a business that was initially viewed by many Americans.
Russia thus lost a distant province, but for the United States, the acquisition of Alaska was an opportunity to expand its territory and control much of the Pacific shore, essential for their expansion strategy in the 19th century.
George Pomuț, involved in negotiations for the sale of Alaska to the US
George Pomutz was born in the Kingdom of Hungary, the Austrian Empire, in the city of Gyula (in Romanian: Giula), Békés County, in a family of Romanian Orthodox ethnic, his parents being John (son of Dica, blacksmith) and Victoria.
The family initially came from Négyfalu (Săcele, Siebendörfer), near Brassó (Brașov, Kronstadt) in Transylvania, settling in Gyula in the second half of the eighteenth century.
Together with a small group of 30 comrades, George Pomuţ left the port of Hamburg, reaching New York on February 24, 1850, where he left only a few months. From here, together with another Romanian, the Banat Drahoş (Dragoş), with some Hungarian revolutionaries, emigrants, decided to go to the west.
The group of emigrants settled in the town of Iowa, where they received a wild place. Their small colony was named “New Buda” and was south of Burlington. This city was only planned by emigrants, never as urban settlement.
In 1855, Pomuț obtained American citizenship, at which point he bought, supported by a rich man, Tall, which he knew then, land stretched.
He had begun to live in luxury, when in 1859 he offered hosting to a friend from Europe. At the beginning of the war of secession, Pomuţ could be considered a rich man: he was the owner of large land areas, he had a farm, he made beautiful income from the concession of mining exploitations, he had built a road for better traffic in the still wild.
Has enrolled as a volunteer in the Union Army
In 1861, George Pomuț enrolled as a volunteer in the Union army (abolitionist) to support his generous ideas. He was accepted as a lieutenant in the 15th Infantry Regiment in Iowa, composed of over 1,000 soldiers and 37 officers, under the command of Colonel Reid.
Pomuţ was promoted as a major and then adjutant lieutenant. He was particularly appreciated because of his calm and courage. He became a hero from his life through his weapons in the fights between the north and the south.
Two years later, the Romanian was promoted to the rank of major, and then in May 1864, at the beginning of the battle for the city of Atlanta, General Frank P. Blair brings him to the headquarters of the Nordist army and advances it to the rank of “Provest Marshall” of the 17th Regiment.
After the war, on February 16, 1866, George Pomuţ was appointed as the US consul in St. Petersburg (Russia). The successor to President Ulyss Grant, President Rutherford B. Hayes promoted the pomuţ to the rank of general consul in 1874.
Pomuț convinced Tsar Alexander III to get rid of Alaska
The reasons for his preservation in this position for 12 years was represented by his diplomatic qualities and abilities. It was highly appreciated because he knew no less than 8 foreign languages.
With a remarkable contribution to the American-Russian relations, Pomuț participated in the negotiations within the “Alaska business” of March 30, 1867, in which he advised Tsar Alexander III to get rid of this territory from the composition of the Russian Empire, invoking various arguments, such as the lack of vegetation, the atmospheric conditions, etc.
The negotiation was done by him, so Alaska was sold to the United States. The discussions ended at four in the morning, on March 30, 1867.
Although he was recalled to America, after completing his diplomatic mission in 1878, he remained in Russia. The reason or reasons are not known today. Even his death is enigmatic. In the US it is known nothing but died in poverty on October 12, 1882 in the city of St. Petersburg.
