826-May-01: The appointment of Charles MacKenzie as British Consul General to Haiti marked a shift toward a more liberal commercial policy by the Canning cab…

826-May-01: The appointment of Charles MacKenzie as British Consul General to Haiti marked a shift toward a more liberal commercial policy by the Canning cabinet compared to the rigid avoidance practiced by the United States. While many historical accounts suggest this appointment constituted formal recognition, MacKenzie’s own records indicate he was not accredited as a diplomatic agent. At this stage, Great Britain was prioritizing stable commercial oversight without fully committing to sovereign parity. This “middle ground” allowed the British to manage their Caribbean interests effectively while the U.S. remained paralyzed by domestic sectional fears regarding a black republic.