American diplomat
George A. Gordon's 1920 diplomatic passport photo.
George A. Gordon (November 19, 1885 – May 11, 1959) was an American attorney and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Haiti and as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands .
Life and career
George Anderson Gordon was born in Huntsville, Alabama on November 19, 1885. He was the son of Percy Gordon, son of George Anderson Gordon , and Nancy Reed French.[ 1] [ 2]
He graduated from Harvard University in 1906 and taught at St. Paul's School until 1909. In 1912 he received his law degree from Columbia University School of Law , and he became an attorney in New York City .[ 3] [ 4]
In 1916 Gordon joined the United States Army and served in the Pancho Villa Expedition . During World War I he was assigned as a captain in France, and after the war he served on the staff that supported the U.S. commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Versailles .[ 5]
Gordon became a career foreign service employee in 1920, and served at embassies in Paris , Budapest , Berlin , and Rio de Janeiro . In 1930 he married Alice Vandergrift Garrett.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
In 1935 he was appointed as Ambassador to Haiti , where he served until 1937.[ 14]
In 1937 he became Ambassador to the Netherlands , serving until the Nazi invasion in 1940, after which he closed down the embassy and departed.[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
Upon returning to the United States Gordon spent the rest of World War II working on foreign policy issues at the State Department , including reorganization and formal re-recognition of Czechoslovakia following its occupation by the Nazis. He retired in 1945.[ 19]
Gordon died in New York City on May 11, 1959.[ 20]
References
^ Who's who in Pennsylvania: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries . 1909. p. 420.
^ Harvard College (1780- ). Class of 1906 (1906). Harvard College Class of 1906 Secretary's Third Report . Crimson Printing Company. p. 158. {{cite book }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link )
^ Harvard University, Report of the lass of 1906 , 1916, page 158
^ Bernard V. Burke, Ambassador Frederic Sackett and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic, 1930-1933 , 2003, page 71
^ Boston Globe, George A. Gordon to Marry Mrs. Garrett , July 5, 1930
^ Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Bulletin , Volume 61, 1959, page 696
^ New York Times, Many Are Promoted in Foreign Service , September 6, 1925
^ New York Times, New Yorkers Rise in Foreign Service: George A. Gordon Becomes Counselor for the Embassy at Paris , January 19, 1930
^ New York Times, Notes of Social Activities in Metropolitan District and Elsewhere , December 23, 1933
^ Associated Press, Capitol Social Leader to Wed , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 5, 1930
^ Abraham Ascher, Was Hitler a Riddle?: Western Democracies and National Socialism , 2012, page 147
^ Robert M. Levine, Father of the Poor?: Vargas and his Era , 1998, page 42
^ Robert Dallek, Democrat and Diplomat: The Life of William E. Dodd , 1968, page 197
^ New York Times, New Envoy to Haiti Arrives , August 3, 1935
^ New York Times, G.A. Gordon Named Envoy to Holland , July 11, 1937
^ United Press International, New Netherlands Minister Named , Berkeley Daily Gazette, July 10, 1937
^ J. Reilly O'Sullivan, Associated Press, Americans Are Unable to Get Out of Holland , Lewiston Daily Sun, May 27, 1940
^ Baltimore Sun, Gordon, Former Envoy To Holland, Returning [dead link ] , July 18, 1940
^ Chicago Tribune, U.S. Continues Recognition of Czechs' State , February 8, 1941
^ Associated Press, Death Notice, G. A. Anderson, Newport Daily News, May 12, 1959
External Resources
International National People