What is a consul?

Answer 1

Two meanings:

1.
an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect and promote the government's citizens and interests there.
synonyms: ambassador, diplomat, chargé d'affaires, attaché, envoy, emissary, plenipotentiary
"he was posing as the French consul"

2.
(in ancient Rome) one of the two annually elected chief magistrates who jointly ruled the republic.

Answer 2

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/consul