Its purpose was to end Franco-British diplomatic tension by guaranteeing the independence of the Leeward Islands in Polynesia.
He became the British consul in Tahiti and persuaded the queen, Pomare IV, to expel Catholic missionaries from the islands.
This prompted France to take control of the islands and to establish a protectorate over them in 1843 leading to the Franco-Tahitian War.
However, in 1880 France placed the islands of Raiatea and Tahaa under a provisional protectorate at their own request, to prevent their being annexed by the German Empire.
Together with all the remaining Leeward Islands, Raiatea and Tahaa became part of French Polynesia on 19 March 1898.