Andrade, Jose,
Diplomatist; born in
Merida, Venezuela, in 1838; studied law in Columbia College; was successively treasurer,
secretary, and governor of the state of Zulia in 1880-84; representative for the same state in the
National House of Representatives in 1884-88; and was appointed plenipotentiary to settle the claims of
France against
Venezuela in 1888.
In 1889-90 he represented
Venezuela in
Washington, D. C., as a member of the Venezuelan and Marine Commissions; was also a delegate to the International Maritime Conference, and to the Pan-American Congress; in 1893 served in the National Assembly which framed the new constitution of
Venezuela and in the same year was appointed minister to the
United States.
In 1895 he was a member of the
United States and Venezuela Claims Commission in
Washington.
On Feb. 2, 1897, he signed the treaty of arbitration between
Venezuela and
England to arrange the boundary dispute: the same year was a delegate to the Universal Postal Congress in
Washington; and in 1899 was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
Great Britain.