Samuel R. Thayer
{{Short description|American attorney and diplomat}}
{{Infobox ambassador
| name = Samuel R. Thayer
| image = Samuel R. Thayer.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| ambassador_from = United States
| country = the Netherlands
| term_start = May 24, 1889
| term_end = August 7, 1893
| predecessor = Robert B. Roosevelt
| successor = William E. Quinby
| president = Benjamin Harrison
| birth_name = Samuel Richard Thayer
| birth_date = {{birth-date|December 12, 1837}}
| birth_place = Richmond, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{death-date and age|January 7, 1909|December 12, 1837}}
| death_place = Rochester, New York, U.S.
| resting_place = Mount Hope Cemetery
| residence =
| alma_mater = Union College
| party = Republican
| spouse =
| parents =
| children =
| relations =
}}
Samuel Richard Thayer (December 12, 1837 – January 7, 1909) was an American attorney and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands.{{cite web|title=Netherlands - Chiefs of Mission - People - Department History - Office of the Historian|url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/chiefsofmission/netherlands|website=history.state.gov|access-date=7 May 2018|language=en}}
Early life
Thayer was born in Richmond, New York, on December 12, 1837.{{cite news|title=Attorney and diplomat Samuel R. Thayer dies|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/history/2014/01/07/samuel-r-thayer-dies/4339075/|access-date=7 May 2018|work=Democrat and Chronicle|date=January 7, 1909|language=en}} He was the son of George Thayer (1807–1900), a constable, farmer and store owner, and Phebe Lorenda (née Wood) Thayer (1813–1873).{{cite book|title=Descendants of Rufus and Pamela (Throop) Thayer: With Some Little Account of Their Ancestry|date=1896|publisher=A. Sutcliffe Company, printers|page=[https://archive.org/details/descendantsofruf00peir/page/16 16]|url=https://archive.org/details/descendantsofruf00peir|access-date=7 May 2018|language=en}}
He graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 1860 and taught school for two years. He then relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, studied law with Francis R. E. Cornell, attained admission to the bar, and established a practice in Minneapolis.John William Leonard, Albert Nelson Marquis, [https://books.google.com/books?id=4nfOl6a6QSkC&pg=PA1469 Who's Who in America], Volume 3, 1903, page 1469Minnesota Historical Society, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2SwUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA804 Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society], Volume 15, 1915, pages 804 to 805
Career
A Republican, Thayer was interested in higher education and served as a member of the Minnesota State Normal School Board from 1873 to 1877.James Grant Wilson, John Fiske, [https://books.google.com/books?id=f6oLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA262 Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography], Volume 7, 1901, page 262
On March 19, 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed Thayer to succeed Robert Barnwell Roosevelt as Ambassador to the Netherlands.{{cite web|title=Samuel Richard Thayer - People - Department History|url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/thayer-samuel-richard|website=history.state.gov|publisher=Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State|access-date=7 May 2018|language=en}} Thayer served until 1893 when he was succeeded by William Emory Quinby.Andrew Van Vranken Raymond, [https://archive.org/details/unionuniversity00raymgoog/page/n162 Union University: Its History, Influence, Characteristics and Equipment], Volume 2, 1907, page 145
Besides maintaining a thriving law practice, Thayer was a successful businessman, including profitable investments in Minnesota real estate, and he made substantial donations to normal schools and colleges throughout the state. In 1892, he received an honorary LL.D. degree from Union College.Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NP9JAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA751 Official Minutes], 1909, page 751 Later in his career he maintained homes and offices in both Minneapolis and New York City.
Personal life
Thayer died in Rochester, New York, on January 7, 1909, while visiting his brother.New York Times, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30C16FB3C5C15738DDDA10894D9405B898CF1D3 Samuel R. Thayer Dead], January 8, 1909 He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{findagrave|7619592}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-dip}}
{{succession box|title=U.S. Minister to the Netherlands|before=Robert Roosevelt|after=William E. Quinby|years=1889–1893}}
{{s-end}}
{{US Ambassadors to the Netherlands}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thayer, Samuel R.}}
Category:People from Richmond, New York
Category:Lawyers from Minneapolis
Category:Lawyers from New York City
Category:Union College (New York) alumni
Category:Minnesota Republicans
Category:19th-century American diplomats
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to the Netherlands