George Robert Merrell
{{short description|American diplomat}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = George Robert Merrell
| image = George R. Merrell.png
| caption = George Robert Merrell while in Tibet in 1946
| office = 6th United States Ambassador to Afghanistan
| president = Harry Truman
| term_start = June 28, 1951
| term_end = May 3, 1952
| predecessor = Louis G. Dreyfus
| successor = Angus I. Ward
| office1 = United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
| president1 = Harry Truman
| term_start1 = June 28, 1949
| term_end1 = March 17, 1951
| predecessor1 = Felix Cole
| successor1 = J. Rives Childs
| office2 = Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Haiti
| term_start2 = March 1924
| term_end2 = October 1926
| predecessor2 = James Clement Dunn
(Charge d’Affaires ad interim)
| successor2 = Christian Gross
(Charge d’Affaires ad interim)
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1898|07|13}}
| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|12|16|1898|07|13}}
| death_place = London, United Kingdom
| restingplace =
| party =
| otherparty =
| father =
| mother =
| spouse = Nathalie Bishop Choate
| children =
| relatives =
| education = Cornell University
| signature =
}}
George Robert Merrell Jr. (July 13, 1898 – December 16, 1962) was an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia and United States Ambassador to Afghanistan. During his diplomatic career he served in Haiti, China, India, and Afghanistan.
Early life
George Robert Merrell Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 13, 1898.{{Cite news |title=George Robert Merrell Jr. |work=The Political Graveyard |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/merrell-merrifield.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815180250/http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/merrell-merrifield.html |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |access-date=August 22, 2020 }} During World War I he served in the United States Army. He graduated from Soldan High School and graduated from Cornell University in 1921.{{Cite news |date=December 27, 1921 |title=St. Louis Youth Appointed To U.S. Diplomatic Corps |page=11 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393296/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815181205/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393296/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}
On January 18, 1936, Merrell married Nathalie Bishop Choate, but Choate later filed for divorce in 1939.{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1936 |title=Merrell-Choate |page=13 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826222/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822164439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826222/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1939 |title=G.R. Merrell Jr. Sued for Divorce |page=5 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826532/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822164816/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826532/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }} She accused Merrell of cruelty and was given the divorce after an eight minute trial.{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1939 |title=Mrs. Merrell Obtains Reno Divorce Friday |page=6 |work=Nevada State Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826700/nevada-state-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822165108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826700/nevada-state-journal/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}
Career
In 1921, Merrell became a diplomat for the United States.{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1962 |title=George R. Merrell Jr. Dies In London; Ex-Ambassador |page=28 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393206/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815181014/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393206/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }} From March 1924 to October 26, he served as the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Haiti.{{Cite news |title=George Robert Merrell (1898–1962) |work=United States Department of State |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/merrell-george-robert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822163831/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/merrell-george-robert |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2020 }} In April 1935, Merrell became the First Secretary of the United States Legation in Peiping, China.
On April 26, 1941, Merrell was appointed to serve as the Consul in Calcutta, India.{{Cite news |date=April 27, 1941 |title=St. Louisan Gets Calcutta Post |page=19 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826980/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822165653/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826980/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }} On September 20, he was promoted to consul general and October 25, he was appointed to simultaneously serve as the Consul General in Kabul, Afghanistan.{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1941 |title=St. Louisan, Consul General |page=17 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827085/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822165933/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827085/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=October 26, 1941 |title=St. Louisan Given Post |page=16 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827126/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822170206/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827126/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }} In 1945, Merrell was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to serve as the United States Minister to India and was approved by the United States Senate on February 27.{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1945 |title=George R. Merrell, Ex-St. Louisan, Nominated as Minister to India |page=6 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827574/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822170908/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827574/st-louis-post-dispatch/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1945 |title=George R. Merrell Nomination Confirmed |page=5 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827709/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822170909/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827709/st-louis-globe-democrat/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}
On April 15, 1947, President Harry S. Truman appointed Merrell to replace Felix Cole as the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. Henry F. Grady was appointed to succeed Merrell as the United States Ambassador to India.{{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 May 14, the United States Senate approved his nomination and he presented his credentials on January 1, 1948.{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1947 |title=Senate Okehs Griffis, Other Truman Choices |page=1 |work=The Waco News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57828432/the-waco-news-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200822172214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57828432/the-waco-news-tribune/ |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }} On June 28, 1949, he was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and served until March 17, 1951.
On April 19, 1951, he was appointed to serve as the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan. He presented his credentials on June 28, 1951, and served until May 3, 1952.
Later life
On December 16, 1962, Merrell died from after suffering a stroke in London, United Kingdom. He was visiting his sister Ruth, who was an assistant to David K. E. Bruce, the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1962 |title=George Merrell, Ex-Envoy, Dies |page=9 |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57392491/the-akron-beacon-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200815175657/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57392491/the-akron-beacon-journal/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{US Ambassador to Haiti}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrell, George R.}}
Category:Cornell University alumni
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Haiti
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to India
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Ethiopia
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Afghanistan