Walter C. Dowling

{{Short description|American diplomat}}

{{Infobox ambassador

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Walter C. Dowling

| honorific_suffix =

| image =

| alt =

| order = 3rd

| ambassador_from = United States

| country = West Germany

| term_start = December 3, 1959

| term_end = April 21, 1963

| predecessor = David K. E. Bruce

| successor = George C. McGhee

| president = Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy

| order2 = 4th

| ambassador_from2 = United States

| country2 = Korea

| term_start2 = July 14, 1956

| term_end2 = October 2, 1959

| predecessor2 = William S.B. Lacy

| successor2 = Walter P. McConaughy

| president2 = Dwight D. Eisenhower

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1905|08|04}}

| birth_place = Atkinson, Georgia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|07|01|1905|08|04}}

| death_place = Savannah, Georgia

| death_cause =

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| spouse = Alice Jernigan

| partner =

| relations =

| children = 2

| education =

| alma_mater = Mercer University

| occupation =

| profession =

}}

Walter Cecil Dowling (August 4, 1905 – July 1, 1977) was the United States Ambassador to West Germany from 1959–1963 and the US Ambassador to South Korea from 1956-1959.

Dowling was born in Atkinson County, Georgia.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/07/31/archives/envoy-to-korea-to-get-high-post-dowling-is-picked-top-aide-to.html |title=ENVOY TO KOREA TO GET HIGH POST; Dowling Is Picked Top Aide to Herter on Europe as Merchant Moves Up |last=Jorden |first=William J. |date=July 31, 1959 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}} He received a bachelor's degree from Mercer University in 1925. In 1932 he became the vice consul in Norway. He worked his way through various foreign postings and postings at the State Department before becoming United States Ambassador to South Korea in 1956. Picked by President Dwight Eisenhower to become Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, he was confirmed by the Senate,{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/08/27/archives/dowling-is-confirmed-senate-also-approves-brand-as-loan-fund.html |title=DOWLING IS CONFIRMED; Senate Also Approves Brand as Loan Fund Director |date=August 27, 1959 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}} but diverted to Bonn,{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/11/07/archives/dowling-career-man-is-slated-to-be-envoy-to-west-germany-former.html |title=Dowling, Career Man, Is Slated To Be Envoy to West Germany; Former Ambassador to Korea Scheduled to Get Post Offered to Murphy |date=November 7, 1959 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}} where he served as United States Ambassador to West Germany up to{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/23/archives/german-reds-fail-in-bid-to-bar-envoy-of-us-from-east-berlin-police.html |title=German Reds Fail in Bid to Bar Envoy of U.S. From East Berlin; Police Order Dowling Back to Western Sector, Then Yield as He Stands Firm |last=Gruson |first=Sydney |date=September 23, 1960 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}} and through the Berlin Crisis of 1961.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/29/archives/crisis-on-berlin-seen-sharpening-soviet-stand-that-air-lanes-can-be.html |title=CRISIS ON BERLIN SEEN SHARPENING; Soviet Stand That Air Lanes Can Be Used Only to Supply Garrisons Worries West |last=Gruson |first=Sydney |date=September 29, 1960 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/05/12/archives/us-tells-envoy-to-see-adenauer-for-clarification-of-statements.html |title=U.S. Tells Envoy to See Adenauer For Clarification of Statements; Bonn-Paris Move to Block British Trade Ties Doubted by Capital |date=May 12, 1962 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}}

Appointed a Career Ambassador in 1962,{{Cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/principalofficers/career-ambassador |title=Career Ambassadors |last=Office of the Historian |website=history.state.gov |language=en |access-date=2018-06-18}} an operation cut short his career; in 1963, he retired from the Foreign Service.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/04/17/archives/dowling-quits-foreign-service-hastens-departure-from-bonn-ends.html |title=Dowling Quits Foreign Service, Hastens Departure From Bonn; Ends 31-Year Career After McGhee Replaces Him as Envoy to Germany |last=Olsen |first=Arthur J. |date=April 17, 1963 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}}

After he left the State Department, he became Director-General of the Atlantic Institute, before returning to Mercer University and teaching political science. He died in 1977.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/09/archives/wc-dowling-dies-retired-us-diplomat-georgian-71-was-ambassador-to.html |title=W, C. DOWLING DIES; RETIRED U.S.DIPLOMAT |date=July 9, 1977 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en}}