John W. Garrett (diplomat)

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John W. Garrett (May 19, 1872–June 26, 1942) was an American diplomat. His postings included Minister to Venezuela, Argentina, and the Netherlands, and Ambassador to Italy.

Life and career

John Work Garrett, the grandson of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad President and banker John W. Garrett was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 19, 1872. His uncle Robert Garrett also served as President of the B & O, and his father Thomas Harrison Garrett operated the family's bank in Baltimore.[1]

The younger John W. Garrett graduated from Princeton University in 1895 and began a career at the bank owned by his family.[2]

In 1901 Garrett embarked on a diplomatic career with appointment as Secretary of the United States legation at The Hague. In 1905 he transferred to a similar position in Berlin, and in 1908 another transfer brought him to Rome.[3][4]

Garrett was appointed Minister to Venezuela in 1910 and served until 1911, when he was appointed as Minister to Argentina.[5]

In 1914 Garrett left Argentina when he was appointed as a special assistant to the Ambassador to France. He served in this post until 1917. As an American diplomat in Europe during World War I, Garrett took part in commissions and conferences on the handling of prisoners of war and other war-related issues.[6]

From 1917 to 1919 Garrett served as Minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg.[7]

Originally a Democrat, Garrett later became a Republican and served as a Delegate to the 1920 Republican National Convention.[8] In 1922 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator, losing to incumbent Joseph I. France.[9][10][11] (France went on to lose the general election to William Cabell Bruce).[12][13] In 1924 he was again a Delegate to the Republican National Convention.[14]

Garrett served as Ambassador to Italy from 1929 to 1933.[15][16][17]

In retirement Garrett resided at Evergreen, the Garrett family mansion which is now a museum and library of the Johns Hopkins University. Garrett died in Baltimore on June 26, 1942,[18] and is buried in Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery.

John Work Garrett and several of his family members were well known collectors of rare books and manuscripts, coins and other items. He donated his papers and much of his library to Johns Hopkins University, and many of his other items are still bought and sold by collectors.[19][20][21][22]

References

  1. Lewis Historical Publishing Co, Baltimore: Biography, 1912, pages 465 to 466
  2. John William Leonard, Who's Who in Finance and Banking, 1922, page 260
  3. United States Department of State, Register of the Department of State, 1919, page 112
  4. Baltimore Sun, John W. Garrett Promoted: Baltimorean Now First Secretary Of Embassy In Rome, June 16, 1908
  5. David Shavit, The United States in Latin America: a Historical Dictionary, 1992, page 410
  6. Baltimore Sun, John W. Garrett to Head U.S. Commission, August 10, 1918
  7. Americana Corp., The Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 12, 1958, page 297
  8. Baltimore Sun, Maryland Men are Jolted by League Plank, June 11, 1920
  9. Lawrence Journal-World, Maryland Primary, September 11, 1922
  10. New York Times, Maryland Selects Today, September 11, 1922
  11. St. Petersburg Evening Independent, Lodge Seat is in Jeopardy, September 11, 1922
  12. New York Times, Ex-Senator France of Maryland Dead, January 27, 1939
  13. New York Times, Ex-Senator Bruce, Author, Dies, May 10, 1946
  14. New York Times, Garrett Selected for Post in Rome, August 1, 1929
  15. Christian Science Monitor, Baltimore Banker Named as Hoover Choice for Ambassador to Italy, July 31, 1929
  16. Hartford Courant, John W. Garrett Named New Ambassador to Italy, August 6, 1929
  17. New York Times, J.W. Garrett Returns From Italy, June 16, 1933
  18. Chicago Daily Tribune, John W. Garrett, Former Envoy to Italy, Dies, June 27, 1942
  19. Baltimore Sun, Early Maryland Books On Exhibit, February 21, 1949
  20. New York Times, 1787 Doubloon Sold for $625,000, March 28, 1981
  21. Baltimore Sun, Remnants of Top Coin Collection Still Being Sold, June 17, 1984
  22. New York Times, Johns Hopkins Gets J.W. Garrett Library, July 6, 1942

External resources

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U.S. Minister to Venezuela
1910–1911
Succeeded by
Elliott Northcott
Preceded by U.S. Minister to Argentina
1911–1914
Succeeded by
Frederic Jesup Stimson
Preceded by U.S. Minister to the Netherlands
1917–1919
Succeeded by
William Phillips
Preceded by U.S. Minister to Luxembourg
1917–1919
Succeeded by
William Phillips
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Italy
1929–1933
Succeeded by
Breckinridge Long