High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Hamilton Fish (August 3, 1808 – September 7, 1893) was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts during the Grant Administration. Fish settled the controversial Alabama Claims with Great Britain through his development of the concept of international arbitration. Fish kept the United States out of war with Spain over Cuban independence by coolly handling the volatile Virginius Incident. In 1875, Fish initiated the process for Hawaiian statehood, by having negotiated a reciprocal trade treaty for the island nation`s abundant sugar supply. Fish organized a peace conference and treaty in Washington D.C. between between South American countries and Spain. Fish worked with James Milton Turner, America`s first African American consul, to settle the Liberian-Grebo civil war. President Grant stated that Hamilton Fish, above all, was the person whom he most trusted for political advice.