| William H. G. FitzGerald | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
In office June 26, 1992 – June 5, 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard A. Moore |
| Succeeded by | Jean Kennedy Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1909 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 2006 (aged 96) Washington, D. C., U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Annelise Petschek |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
| Religion | Catholic Church |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
William Henry Gerald FitzGerald (December 23, 1909 – January 5, 2006) was an American investor and philanthropist, who served as United States Ambassador to Ireland from 1992 to 1993.[1]
Biography[]
FitzGerald was born in Boston in 1909, and grew up in nearby Wakefield, Massachusetts.[2] After attending the Severn School in Maryland, he entered the United States Naval Academy in 1927 and graduated in 1931.[2] He attended submarine school, and was later assigned to Pearl Harbor; he left the Navy in 1934 to attend Harvard Law School.[2] After some successful investing, FitzGerald decided to leave law school to learn corporate finance; he worked for the Borden Milk Company until being recalled by the Navy in April 1941.[2]
FitzGerald conducted submarine research during World War II, and left the Navy in 1946.[2] Until 1957, he worked in the field of metallurgy, including founding and selling a company. Former governor of Massachusetts Christian Herter then had him appointed to a position within the International Cooperation Administration.[2] In 1960, FitzGerald left the ICA to support the presidential campaign of Richard Nixon.[2] After Nixon lost the 1960 presidential election, FitzGerald returned to private business, and became chairman of a hydrofoil company; during these years he also invested in the stock market.[2] FitzGerald later held positions within the International Center of Investment Disputes (1975–1982), the President's Advisory Board on International Investments (1976–1978), and the Atlantic Council starting in 1976.[2]
After the 1988 election of George H. W. Bush, FitzGerald was appointed vice chairman of the African Development Fund.[2] In 1992, he was appointed ambassador to Ireland by President Bush.[2] His nomination caused some controversy, due to his age (FitzGerald was 82 at the time) and some misstatements he made during his confirmation hearing.[3][4] His nomination was confirmed by the Senate, and he presented his credentials to President of Ireland Mary Robinson on June 26, 1992.[5][6] He had the official title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and served until June 5, 1993.[5]
FitzGerald died at George Washington University Hospital on January 5, 2006, of an aortic aneurysm.[7] The William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington is named in his honor.
See also[]
- United States Ambassador to Ireland
References[]
- ↑ "Chiefs of Mission for Ireland". https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/chiefsofmission/ireland. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "Interview with William H.G. FitzGerald". December 14, 1994. https://cdn.loc.gov/service/mss/mfdip/2004/2004fit02/2004fit02.pdf. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ↑ Clarity, James F. (June 25, 1992). "Irish Ridicule New U.S. Envoy Over Gaffes". https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/25/world/irish-ridicule-new-us-envoy-over-gaffes.html. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ↑ "US envoy in early 1990s whose nomination caused controversy". January 14, 2006. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/us-envoy-in-early-1990s-whose-nomination-caused-controversy-1.1001948. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "William Henry Gerald FitzGerald (1909–2006)". https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/fitzgerald-william-henry-gerald. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ↑ "New U.S. envoy takes post, heat in Ireland". June 26, 1992. http://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/06/26/New-US-envoy-takes-post-heat-in-Ireland/8537709531200/. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ↑ "Philanthropist William H.G. FitzGerald". January 9, 2006. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/08/AR2006010801019.html. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
External links[]
- "Notable Graduate William H.G. FitzGerald". https://www.usna.edu/Notables/ambassadors/1931fitzgerald.php. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- "FitzGerald-Callaghan Lourdes Endowment Fund". https://www.orderofmalta-federal.org/lourdes-endowment. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
The original article can be found at William H. G. FitzGerald and the edit history here.