Angier Biddle Duke
Encyclopedia
Angier Biddle Duke had a career which included being a diplomat
in the United States
foreign service.
.
His father was Angier Buchanan Duke
(1884–1923) an heir to the American Tobacco Company
fortune; his paternal grandfather was Benjamin Newton Duke
(1855–1929), a major benefactor of Duke University
(named for the family).
His mother was Cordelia Drexel Biddle. His maternal grandfather was Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Sr. of the Biddle family
of Philadelphia. A great-great-grandfather through his mother was banker Anthony Joseph Drexel.
After a misspent youth, which included an education at St. Paul's School
in Concord, New Hampshire
he dropped out of Yale University
in 1936.
In 1937 he married Priscilla St. George. They had son Angier "Pony" St. George Duke born in 1938, and were divorced in 1939.
He became skiing editor for a sports magazine, and married Margaret Screven White in 1940.
In 1940 he enlisted as a private in the United States Army Air Force, and by discharge in 1945 was a major
officer serving in North Africa and Europe. His uncle Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.
was serving as ambassador to most of the governments-in-exile that were occupied by Germany during World War II
.
In 1949, Duke joined the United States Foreign Service
an assistant in Buenos Aires
and subsequently Madrid
. From 1952–1953 he served as the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador
during the Truman Administration; at this point, at the age of 36 he was at the time the youngest ever U.S. Ambassador. With the Democratic Party
out of power in 1953–1961, he left the foreign service and returned to private life. During much of this time, he served as President of the International Rescue Commission.
In 1960, Duke responded favorably to a call from the Kennedy administration to serve as Chief of Protocol
for the U.S. Department of State with the rank of Ambassador; he held this position until 1965 in the Johnson administration. His most visible task during this term was to supervise the protocol for all world leaders who attended the November 25, 1963 funeral for the fallen 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy
. As his term as Chief of Protocol ended the Johnson Administration
asked him to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Spain
in 1965–1967 and then as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark
in 1968–1969. In 1969 he was awarded an honorary LLD degree from Duke University.
With the Democratic Party again out of power, he was again out of the U.S. Foreign Service. The Carter administration brought him back again to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco
in 1979–1981.
From 1992–1995, Duke served as the elected president of the Council of American Ambassadors
. On Saturday, April 29, 1995, while the 79 year old Duke was rollerblading he was struck by a car and died. His papers are archived by Duke University in North Carolina
.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
foreign service.
Biography
Angier Biddle Duke was born November 30, 1915 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
His father was Angier Buchanan Duke
Angier Buchanan Duke
Angier Buchanan Duke was a Trustee of Duke University from 1914-1923, as well as vice president and president of the Alumni Association.-Biography:...
(1884–1923) an heir to the American Tobacco Company
American Tobacco Company
The American Tobacco Company was a tobacco company founded in 1890 by J. B. Duke through a merger between a number of U.S. tobacco manufacturers including Allen and Ginter and Goodwin & Company...
fortune; his paternal grandfather was Benjamin Newton Duke
Benjamin Newton Duke
Benjamin Newton Duke was a U.S. tobacco, textile, energy industrialist and philanthropist.-Biography:...
(1855–1929), a major benefactor of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
(named for the family).
His mother was Cordelia Drexel Biddle. His maternal grandfather was Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Sr. of the Biddle family
Biddle family
The American Biddle family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania yielded numerous and diverse people of interest down to the present era.William Biddle and Sarah Kempe were Quakers who emigrated from England to America in 1681 in part to avoid religious persecution...
of Philadelphia. A great-great-grandfather through his mother was banker Anthony Joseph Drexel.
After a misspent youth, which included an education at St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
he dropped out of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1936.
In 1937 he married Priscilla St. George. They had son Angier "Pony" St. George Duke born in 1938, and were divorced in 1939.
He became skiing editor for a sports magazine, and married Margaret Screven White in 1940.
In 1940 he enlisted as a private in the United States Army Air Force, and by discharge in 1945 was a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
officer serving in North Africa and Europe. His uncle Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.
Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.
Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the...
was serving as ambassador to most of the governments-in-exile that were occupied by Germany during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1949, Duke joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
an assistant in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and subsequently Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. From 1952–1953 he served as the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador
United States Ambassador to El Salvador
The following is a list of United States Ambassadors, or other Chiefs of Mission, to El Salvador. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-Chiefs of Mission:...
during the Truman Administration; at this point, at the age of 36 he was at the time the youngest ever U.S. Ambassador. With the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
out of power in 1953–1961, he left the foreign service and returned to private life. During much of this time, he served as President of the International Rescue Commission.
In 1960, Duke responded favorably to a call from the Kennedy administration to serve as Chief of Protocol
Chief of Protocol of the United States
The Chief of Protocol is an officer of the United States Department of State responsible for advising the President of the United States, the vice president, and the secretary of state on matters of national and international diplomatic protocol...
for the U.S. Department of State with the rank of Ambassador; he held this position until 1965 in the Johnson administration. His most visible task during this term was to supervise the protocol for all world leaders who attended the November 25, 1963 funeral for the fallen 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. As his term as Chief of Protocol ended the Johnson Administration
Johnson Administration
Johnson Administration may refer to:*Andrew Johnson Administration, 17th President of the United States, 1865–1869*Lyndon B. Johnson Administration, 36th President of the United States, 1963–1969...
asked him to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Spain
United States Ambassador to Spain
-Ambassadors:*John Jay**Appointed: September 29, 1779**Title: Minister Plenipotentiary**Presented credentials:**Terminated mission: ~May 20, 1782*William Carmichael**Appointed: April 20, 1790**Title: Chargé d'Affaires...
in 1965–1967 and then as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark
United States Ambassador to Denmark
The first representative from the United States to Denmark was appointed in 1827 as a Chargé d'Affaires. There followed a series of chargés and ministers until 1890 when the first full ambassador was appointed...
in 1968–1969. In 1969 he was awarded an honorary LLD degree from Duke University.
With the Democratic Party again out of power, he was again out of the U.S. Foreign Service. The Carter administration brought him back again to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco
United States Ambassador to Morocco
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Morocco. The United States first recognized Morocco in 1797, but diplomatic relations were not established until 1905. In 1912 Morocco came under the control of France and Spain as protectorates. The United States did not initially recognize the...
in 1979–1981.
From 1992–1995, Duke served as the elected president of the Council of American Ambassadors
Council of American Ambassadors
The Council of American Ambassadors is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of former and incumbent non-career United States Ambassadors. The organization provides advice and assistance to the U.S. Department of State, as appropriate, and endeavors to educate the public on foreign policy issues...
. On Saturday, April 29, 1995, while the 79 year old Duke was rollerblading he was struck by a car and died. His papers are archived by Duke University in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.