Diplomat. He was hired in 1784 to be the personal tutor to the children of Martha Washington. He quickly became George Washington's personal secretary, and moved to New York City with Washington when the latter became President. He left the President at the start of his second term to start his own company. His business venture failed, and Lear went into debt. Returning to the President with an apology, Lear was given the rank of Colonel under Washington in the army. Lear was with Washington at the time of his death, recorded the President's last moments and planned the funeral. When Thomas Jefferson became President, he appointed Lear as a commercial agent in Santo Domingo, a post from which Lear quickly retreated from because of a slave rebellion on the island. In 1803 Jefferson appointed Lear Consul General to the North African Coast. In this capacity, Lear was the primary negotiator of the Treaty of Tripoli which ended the First Barbary War. Under President James Madison Lear served as a secretary in the War Department. During this tenure the British burned the capital. Lear committed suicide for reasons unknown.

Diplomat. He was hired in 1784 to be the personal tutor to the children of Martha Washington. He quickly became George Washington's personal secretary, and moved to New York City with Washington when the latter became President. He left the President at the start of his second term to start his own company. His business venture failed, and Lear went into debt. Returning to the President with an apology, Lear was given the rank of Colonel under Washington in the army. Lear was with Washington at the time of his death, recorded the President's last moments and planned the funeral. When Thomas Jefferson became President, he appointed Lear as a commercial agent in Santo Domingo, a post from which Lear quickly retreated from because of a slave rebellion on the island. In 1803 Jefferson appointed Lear Consul General to the North African Coast. In this capacity, Lear was the primary negotiator of the Treaty of Tripoli which ended the First Barbary War. Under President James Madison Lear served as a secretary in the War Department. During this tenure the British burned the capital. Lear committed suicide for reasons unknown.

Bio by: Dan Silva