Their first child, Robert Wilson Shufeldt Jr (1850-1934)[2] was a medical doctor and pioneer in the study of ancient human remains, ornithology, and an advocate of white supremacy.

[3] Their adopted daughter, Mary Abercrombie Shufeldt,[4] accompanied her father to China on a diplomatic mission in 1881 and acted as his secretary.

In 1867, he attempted to investigate the sinking of the SS General Sherman in Korea, but was forced to turn back by bad winter weather.

[8] In 1870, he was responsible for putting together the survey of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the report laid the ground for the ship-railway project canvassed for a time by the engineer Captain James Buchanan Eads.

[15] Promoted to Commodore in 1876,[8] he returned to Korea on his flagship USS Ticonderoga during her circumnavigation of the globe in 1878, establishing relationships with Japanese and Chinese diplomats and political leaders in the region, including Li Hongzhang.

[17] Tyler Dennett, writing his 1922 analysis of 19th century US policy as regards Japan, China and Korea, is highly critical of the personalised nature of US diplomatic moves.

However, the letter went much further, denigrating the character of the powerful Chinese he had to deal with, and stating that American higher motivation was misplaced because only selfishness and force would be understood.

[18] This letter was later published but its immediate impact is thought to explain the failure of the US government (now forced to rethink its Far Eastern policy as an integrated whole) to give Shufeldt the direct authority he requested to sign the Korea treaty, which he did anyway.