Trent affair: USS San Jacinto stops British mail packet Trent

Background. The Trent Affair was a diplomatic incident in 1861 during the American Civil War that threatened war between the United States and the United Kingdom. Anglo-American relations had improved throughout the 1850s, despite minor incidents like the Pig War. The crisis did not erupt as a major issue until late November 1861, following the seizure of Confederate envoys from a British mail packet.

Diplomatic Context. In February 1861, the Confederacy created a European delegation. James Mason, formerly chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Slidell, a former negotiator, were appointed as Confederate commissioners to France in September 1861. They sailed to England on the RMS Trent, seeking recognition or assistance for the Confederacy, setting the stage for their capture by Union forces.

Resolution Aftermath. The crisis threatened war, but British diplomat Lyons maintained calm diplomacy contributing to a peaceful resolution. The envoys were held at Fort Warren until quietly released on New Year's Day, 1862. They then set sail for England on January 1, 1862, continuing their diplomatic efforts in Paris, where Slidell visited the French minister of foreign affairs in February 1862.