Anglo-Franco Proclamation restores Hawaiian independence

Background. In 1842, Timoteo Haʻalilio, William Richards and Sir George Simpson were commissioned as joint Ministers Plenipotentiary, securing an assurance of Hawaiian independence from United States President John Tyler on December 19, 1842. On March 17, 1843, French foreign minister François Guizot, on behalf of King Louis Philippe I, assured the delegation of French recognition. After returning to London, on April 1, 1843, Lord Aberdeen, on behalf of Queen Victoria, gave a similar British assurance. Meanwhile, in February 1843, Captain Lord George Paulet had pressured Kamehameha III into surrendering the kingdom to the British crown; Kamehameha III alerted London of the captain's rogue actions, which eventually restored the kingdom's independence.

Occupation and Restoration. Captain Lord George Paulet arrived in Honolulu in February 1843 and pressured Kamehameha III into surrendering the kingdom. Rear Admiral Richard Darton Thomas, Paulet's commanding officer, arrived in July 1843. Thomas apologized for Paulet's actions and restored Hawaiian sovereignty on July 31, 1843, an event later commemorated as Sovereignty Restoration Day.

Formal Recognition. On November 28, 1843, the British and French governments formally recognized the independence of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the Anglo-Franco Proclamation. This joint declaration was signed in London by Lord Aberdeen and the Comte de Saint-Aulaire, representing Queen Victoria and King Louis-Philippe, respectively, marking the official diplomatic recognition of sovereignty.