Born and raised in Framingham, Peter Parker (1804-1888) was the first Protestant medical missionary to China and one of the first official American diplomats to serve in that country. In 1834, Parker completed his education in medicine and theology at Yale University and traveled to China in dual capacities as a Presbyterian minister and doctor. In 1835, he established the Canton Ophthalmic Hospital, the first Western style hospital and medical school in China.
Parker’s diplomatic work began in 1844, when he became an interpreter for the new U.S. Embassy in Canton. In 1856, President Franklin Pierce selected Parker to renegotiate an 1844 treaty with the Qing Dynasty. He served in this capacity until he retired to Washington, D.C. in 1857.
This diplomatic uniform worn by Parker during this period has some unusual custom features that were not found on the uniforms of American diplomats in Western countries, including the unique shoulder embellishment that wings out from the uniform differently than a standard epaulet.
The Parker uniform is a unique artifact of Framingham's connection to the opening of the Far East. The unusual "dragon wings" may have been an adaptation to create a Sino-American cultural hybrid that enhanced his abilities as a diplomat. The ensemble is unique among surviving American diplomatic uniforms in its completeness.