George Robert Merrell Explained

George Robert Merrell
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 Date:13 July 1898
Birth Place:St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Death Place:London, United Kingdom
Spouse:Nathalie Bishop Choate
Education:Cornell University

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.[1] During World War I he served in the United States Army. He graduated from Soldan High School and graduated from Cornell University in 1921.[2]

On January 18, 1936, Merrell married Nathalie Bishop Choate, but Choate later filed for divorce in 1939.[3] [4] She accused Merrell of cruelty and was given the divorce after an eight minute trial.[5]

Career

In 1921, Merrell became a diplomat for the United States.[2] [6] From March 1924 to October 26, he served as the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Haiti.[7] In April 1935, Merrell became the First Secretary of the United States Legation in Peiping, China.[3]

On April 26, 1941, Merrell was appointed to serve as the Consul in Calcutta, India.[8] 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.[9] [10] 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.[11] [12]

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.[13] On May 14, the United States Senate approved his nomination and he presented his credentials on January 1, 1948.[14] [7] On June 28, 1949, he was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and served until March 17, 1951.[7]

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.[7]

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]

Notes and References

  1. News: George Robert Merrell Jr. . . live . https://archive.today/20200815180250/http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/merrell-merrifield.html . August 15, 2020 . August 22, 2020 .
  2. News: December 27, 1921 . St. Louis Youth Appointed To U.S. Diplomatic Corps . 11 . St. Louis Globe-Democrat . live . https://archive.today/20200815181205/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393296/st-louis-globe-democrat/ . August 15, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  3. News: January 18, 1936 . Merrell-Choate . 13 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822164439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826222/the-boston-globe/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  4. News: March 3, 1939 . G.R. Merrell Jr. Sued for Divorce . 5 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822164816/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826532/st-louis-globe-democrat/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  5. News: March 4, 1939 . Mrs. Merrell Obtains Reno Divorce Friday . 6 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822165108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826700/nevada-state-journal/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  6. News: December 17, 1962 . George R. Merrell Jr. Dies In London; Ex-Ambassador . 28 . . live . https://archive.today/20200815181014/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393206/st-louis-post-dispatch/ . August 15, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  7. News: George Robert Merrell (1898–1962) . . live . https://archive.today/20200822163831/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/merrell-george-robert . August 22, 2020 . February 3, 2020 .
  8. News: April 27, 1941 . St. Louisan Gets Calcutta Post . 19 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822165653/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826980/st-louis-post-dispatch/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  9. News: September 21, 1941 . St. Louisan, Consul General . 17 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822165933/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827085/st-louis-post-dispatch/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  10. News: October 26, 1941 . St. Louisan Given Post . 16 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822170206/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827126/st-louis-globe-democrat/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  11. News: February 19, 1945 . George R. Merrell, Ex-St. Louisan, Nominated as Minister to India . 6 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822170908/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827574/st-louis-post-dispatch/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  12. News: February 28, 1945 . George R. Merrell Nomination Confirmed . 5 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822170909/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827709/st-louis-globe-democrat/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  13. News: April 16, 1947 . George R. Merrill Named Minister To Ethiopia . 10 . The Courier-Journal . live . https://archive.today/20200814223220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349834/the-courier-journal/ . August 14, 2020 . . August 15, 2020 .
  14. News: May 15, 1947 . Senate Okehs Griffis, Other Truman Choices . 1 . . live . https://archive.today/20200822172214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57828432/the-waco-news-tribune/ . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .
  15. News: December 17, 1962 . George Merrell, Ex-Envoy, Dies . 9 . The Akron Beacon Journal . live . https://archive.today/20200815175657/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57392491/the-akron-beacon-journal/ . August 15, 2020 . . August 22, 2020 .