Why did Thomas Larkin write his biographical sketches?

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He was doing his job. His "real" one.

Officially, he started as U.S. Consul to Alta California. But that was kind of a cover for his real role, which was as a "confidential agent", or what we might call a secret agent. Imagine a CIA operative playing a part in local political affairs on behalf of the U.S., operating under the cover of a consulate. In plain terms, he was a "spy," and writing reports about the activities of key local people is a large part of what spies do.

He served under Democratic Presidents, first James K. Polk in the 1840s, and later James Buchanan in the 1850s.

Tom Au 104013

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Source: stackoverflow.com

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