In May of 1803, Capt. William Shaler (1773-1833) and his supercargo, Richard Cleveland (1773-1860), of the American merchant-vessel “Lelia Byrd,” acquired three horses in Mexico: a stallion, a mare and a mare with foal. Their purpose in doing so was
In May of 1803, Capt. William Shaler (1773-1833) and his supercargo, Richard Cleveland (1773-1860), of the American merchant-vessel “Lelia Byrd,” acquired three horses in Mexico: a stallion, a mare and a mare with foal.
Their purpose in doing so was to present them as a gift to King Kamehameha I in Hawaii in the hopes that the king would then grant them a trading concession or monopoly in the Hawaiian Islands.
When “Lelia Byrd” anchored in Kealakekua Bay on June 21, 1803, Shaler and Cleveland learned that Kamehameha was on Maui, and instead met with Kamehameha’s advisor and business agent, John Young, who provided them with supplies.
They also agreed with Young to leave the mare with foal in Young’s care at Young’s residence at Kawaihae Bay, which was done on June 24 — the first horse ever to trod the soil of Hawaii.
Shortly thereafter, at Lahaina, Maui, the American seafarers gave their two remaining horses to Kamehameha, but the usually astute king was unimpressed by the animals and no trading privileges materialized.
While on Maui, Kamehameha also entrusted the “Lelia Byrd’s” captain and supercargo with a message to deliver to King Kaumualii of Kauai — at that time a kingdom independent of Kamehameha’s government.
His communiqué demanded that Kaumualii send an ambassador to Oahu within one month’s time — acknowledging Kamehameha as Kaumualii’s sovereign — or risk invasion by Kamehameha’s armed forces.
When “Lelia Byrd” arrived off Kauai on July 6, Kaumualii did not come aboard, nor did “Lelia Byrd” land, so the message was given to one of Kauai’s European residents, who promised to convey it to Kaumualii, while adding that it would be disregarded.
On July 7, 1803, “Lelia Byrd” left the Hawaiian Islands for Guam.
A year later, in 1804, Kamehameha’s threatened invasion ended in disaster on Oahu, when his splendid army was destroyed by foreign disease, most likely typhoid.
