George Robert Merrell

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.

George Robert Merrell
George Robert Merrell while in Tibet in 1946
United States Ambassador to Afghanistan
In office
June 28, 1951 – May 3, 1952
Preceded byLouis G. Dreyfus
Succeeded byAngus I. Ward
United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
In office
June 28, 1949 – March 17, 1951
Preceded byFelix Cole
Succeeded byJ. Rives Childs
Personal details
Born(1898-07-13)July 13, 1898
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1962(1962-12-16) (aged 64)
London, United Kingdom
Spouse(s)Nathalie Bishop Choate
EducationCornell University

Early life

George Robert Merrell Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 13, 1898.[1] During World War I he served in the United States Army.[2] He graduated from Soldan High School and gradated from Cornell University in 1921.[3]

On January 18, 1936, Merrell married Nathalie Bishop Choate, but Choate later filed for divorce in 1939.[4][5] She accused Merrell of cruelty and was given the divorce after an eight minute trial.[6]

Career

In 1921, Merrell became a diplomat for the United States.[3][7] From March 1924 to October 26, he served as the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Haiti.[8] In April 1935, Merrell became the First Secretary of the United States Legation in Peiping, China.[4]

On April 26, 1941, Merrell was appointed to serve as the Consul in Calcutta, India.[9] 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.[10][11] 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.[12][13]

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.[2] On May 14, the United States Senate approved his nomination and he presented his credentials on January 1, 1948.[14][8] On June 28, 1949, he was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and served until March 17, 1951.[8]

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.[8]

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.[15]

References
  1. "George Robert Merrell Jr". The Political Graveyard. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  2. "George R. Merrill Named Minister To Ethiopia". The Courier-Journal. April 16, 1947. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "St. Louis Youth Appointed To U.S. Diplomatic Corps". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. December 27, 1921. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Merrell-Choate". The Boston Globe. January 18, 1936. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "G.R. Merrell Jr. Sued for Divorce". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. March 3, 1939. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Mrs. Merrell Obtains Reno Divorce Friday". Nevada State Journal. March 4, 1939. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "George R. Merrell Jr. Dies In London; Ex-Ambassador". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 17, 1962. p. 28. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "George Robert Merrell (1898–1962)". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  9. "St. Louisan Gets Calcutta Post". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 27, 1941. p. 19. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "St. Louisan, Consul General". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 21, 1941. p. 17. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "St. Louisan Given Post". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. October 26, 1941. p. 16. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "George R. Merrell, Ex-St. Louisan, Nominated as Minister to India". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 19, 1945. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "George R. Merrell Nomination Confirmed". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. February 28, 1945. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Senate Okehs Griffis, Other Truman Choices". The Waco News Tribune. May 15, 1947. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "George Merrell, Ex-Envoy, Dies". The Akron Beacon Journal. December 17, 1962. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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