Felix Cole
{{Short description|American diplomat}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Felix Cole
| image =
| caption =
| office = 1st United States Ambassador to Ceylon
| term_start = August 3, 1949
| term_end = October 30, 1949
| predecessor =
| successor = Joseph C. Satterthwaite
| office1 = United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
| term_start1 = October 5, 1945
| term_end1 = October 8, 1947
| predecessor1 = John K. Caldwell
| successor1 = George Robert Merrell
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1887
| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
| death_date = July 23, 1969
| death_place = Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
| restingplace =
| party =
| otherparty =
| father =
| mother =
| spouse = Tataiana Zakushniak
Jeannette Watrous Berry
| children =
| relatives = Nelson Dewey (grandfather)
| education = Harvard University
George Washington University Law School
| signature =
}}
Felix Cole (1887 – July 23, 1969) was an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia and Ceylon. Prior to his service as an ambassador he served as a consul in Russia, Romania, Australia, Poland, Latvia, French Algeria, and Liberia.
Early life and education
Felix Cole was born in 1887, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Kate Dewey and John Cole. In 1910, he graduated from Harvard University and later graduated with a law degree from George Washington University Law School. After graduating from George Washington University Law School he started working for the Boston Herald. Cole's grandfather, Nelson Dewey, was the first governor of Wisconsin.{{Cite news |date=March 29, 1931 |title=Parents |page=35 |work=The Capital Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347608/the-capital-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814215825/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347608/the-capital-times/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
On October 10, 1915, he married Tataiana Zakushniak, a Russian dancer, while serving as the United States consul in Petrograd, Russia, and had one child with her before he filed for divorce in 1926.{{Cite news |date=August 10, 1926 |title=Divorce with Tataiana Zakushniak |page=6 |work=The Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57346756/the-baltimore-sun/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814214700/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57346756/the-baltimore-sun/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=May 11, 1928 |title=Divorce with Tataiana Zakushniak |page=35 |work=Evening Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347153/evening-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814215135/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347153/evening-star/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
Career
In 1915, Cole received a job in the United States Department of State. He served as the United States consul in Arkhangelsk, Russian Empire. He was arrested by the Bolsheviks on July 7, 1918, and remained imprisoned until the Allies occupied Arkhangelsk in August.{{Cite news |date=August 7, 1918 |title=Anti-American Feeling Bolsheviki Brought Out |page=7 |work=The Chattanooga News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57290571/the-chattanooga-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200813233354/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57290571/the-chattanooga-news/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
In 1920, Cole was assigned as the United States consul in Bucharest, Romania.{{Cite news |date=November 27, 1920 |title=New Places For Consuls |page=8 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57291221/the-washington-post/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200813234628/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57291221/the-washington-post/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} In 1924, he was assigned as the United States consul in Sydney, Australia.{{Cite news |date=December 15, 1924 |title=Changes in Foreign Service |page=2 |work=Evening Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57291652/evening-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200813235354/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57291652/evening-star/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} In 1928, he was assigned as the United States consul in Warsaw, Poland.{{Cite news |date=August 28, 1928 |title=Named Consul General in Warsaw, Poland |page=9 |work=Evening Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347322/evening-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814215513/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347322/evening-star/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} During the 1930s he served as the Charge d'Affaires in Riga, Latvia.{{Cite news |date=June 11, 1932 |title=Red Flag For U.S. Legation At Riga |page=4 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347728/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814220140/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57347728/daily-news/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} In 1944, he was appointed to serve as the first secretary of the United States legation to Liberia and as the consul general in Monrovia, Liberia.{{Cite news |date=August 28, 1944 |title=Rock Island Man Is On Liberia Consul Staff |page=3 |work=The Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349033/the-dispatch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814221959/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349033/the-dispatch/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
During the 1940s he served as a consul in French Algeria and during his tenure he advised the United States against intervening against the actions of former Vichy officials on behalf of Algeria's 150,000 Jews.{{Cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ry5XyRIl6V4C |title=The Jews of Spain Page 251|isbn=9781439107836 |author1=Gerber |date=November 2, 1992 |publisher=Simon and Schuster }}
=Ambassador=
On February 5, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Cole to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia and was later approved by the United States Senate on February 20.{{Cite news |date=February 5, 1945 |title=Cole Envoy to Ethiopia |page=11 |work=Courier Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349190/courier-post/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814222305/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349190/courier-post/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1945 |title=United States Senate approves Ethiopia nomination |page=8 |work=Great Falls Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349387/great-falls-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814222559/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349387/great-falls-tribune/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} On October 5, 1945, he presented his credentials and served until October 8, 1947.{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1969 |title=Felix Cole (1887–1969) |work=United States Department of State |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/cole-felix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814223040/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/cole-felix |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} George Robert Merrell was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to replace Cole.{{Cite news |date=April 16, 1947 |title=George R. Merrill Named Minister To Ethiopia |page=10 |work=The Courier-Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349834/the-courier-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200814223220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349834/the-courier-journal/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
On March 29, 1948, President Truman appointed Cole to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ceylon and was later approved by the United States Senate on April 7.{{Cite news |date=March 29, 1948 |title=Ohioan Nominated Counsel of Treasury |page=11 |work=The Birmingham News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57358152/the-birmingham-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815005019/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57358152/the-birmingham-news/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=April 8, 1948 |title=Seante Okehs MacVeagh |page=1 |work=The Waco News-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57358391/the-waco-news-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815005334/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57358391/the-waco-news-tribune/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} Cole was the first person to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ceylon.{{Cite news |date=September 23, 1949 |title=First Ambassador |page=14 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57359178/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815010654/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57359178/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} He presented his credentials on August 3, 1949, and served until October 30, 1949. Joseph C. Satterthwaite was appointed by Truman to replace Cole.{{Cite news |date=September 8, 1949 |title=Envoy To Ceylon Named |page=11 |work=Star Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57358928/star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815010308/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57358928/star-tribune/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
Later life
On July 18, 1953, Cole married Jeannette Watrous Berry.{{Cite news |date=July 23, 1953 |title=Marriage to Jeannette Watrous Berry |page=14 |work=The Montclair Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57359377/the-montclair-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815011026/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57359377/the-montclair-times/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }} He later served as chairman of the American Friends for Russian Freedom.
On July 23, 1969, Cole died either at home or at the Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, New Jersey.{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1969 |title=Felix Cole, Diplomat |page=4 |work=The Montclair Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57285917/the-montclair-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200813225932/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57285917/the-montclair-times/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=July 26, 1969 |title=Ex-Ambassador Dies |page=2 |work=The Times-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57289015/the-times-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200813230359/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57289015/the-times-tribune/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=July 26, 1969 |title=Felix Cole, Montclair REsident, Served as U.S. Ambassador |page=28 |work=The News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57285929/the-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200813231435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57285929/the-news/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{succession box |title=U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia | before=John K. Caldwell | after=George Robert Merrell | years=1945–1947}}
{{succession box |title=U.S. Ambassador to Ceylon |before=Bernard Gufler|after=Binky Barnes |years=1961–1964}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Felix}}
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Ethiopia
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Sri Lanka
Category:United States Foreign Service personnel
Category:Harvard University alumni