Francis March Hatch

Francis March Hatch (June 7, 1852 – March 19, 1923) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician who served as vice president of the Provisional Government of Hawaii, Minister of the Office of Foreign Affairs and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States for the Republic of Hawaii, and a Hawaiian Supreme Court justice.

[2] Once he established his residency in Hawaiʻi, Hatch assimilated into the mercantile class of mostly Americans, but a growing number of Europeans and Chinese were also businesspersons.

[4] When the Provisional Government transitioned into the Republic of Hawaii, Hatch was appointed the Minister of the Office of Foreign Affairs by the newly formed Executive Council.

Ultimately, this annexation attempt failed but following the election of William McKinley in 1896, Dole sent another delegation, this time led by Hatch as the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States.

On June 16, 1897, President McKinley signed the treaty, negotiated by Hatch, annexing Hawaiʻi as a territory of the United States.

After 17 days of filibuster, the Senate passed the Joint Resolution on July 7, 1898, and President McKinley added, in bold script, “Approved,” along with his signature.