Mr. Slidell - one of the Confederate Commissioners to England and France seized on board the Trent, 1861. American Civil War. Diplomats John Slidell and James M. Mason were arrested by the officers of the San Jacinto (captained by Charles Wilkes) while they were on board the British mail-steamer Trent. Mr. Slidell, the Commissioner to France...married the accomplished daughter of a gentleman of Louisiana, the lady who accompanied him in his voyage towards Europe was present at his capture on board the Trent, and is now residing in this country [England]. Slidell was District Attorney for the State of Louisiana and was subsequently elected to Congress for two terms. In 1853 he was elected a member of the Senate of the United States, and occupied that position until the secession of the Southern States. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.