John Cudahy
Encyclopedia
John Clarence Cudahy was a real estate broker and American ambassador to Poland
, Ireland
, Belgium
and Luxembourg
. He was a Democrat
.
, the son of Patrick Cudahy
the meat packing
industrialist and Anna Cudahy. He graduated from Harvard University
and then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School
.
He served during World War I
as a Lieutenant in Company B of the U.S. Army's 339th Infantry Regiment. This Regiment was part of the Polar Bear Expedition
which was sent to North Russia to intervene on behalf of the anti-communist forces in the Russian Civil War. On November 14, 1918, Lt. Cudahy led the counter-attack that succeeded in breaking through and routing the 1,000 Bolshevik troops that on November 11th [Armistice Day] had encircled and attacked the 600 American, Canadian and Royal Scots soldiers who were holding the village of Toulgas on the Northern Dvina River. However, his eventual disillusionment with the campaign in North Russia led him to write (under a pseudonym) the book Archangel: The American War with Russia.
Back in the United States
, Cudahy headed his family's real estate company, building the Cudahy Tower Apartments on the shore of Lake Michigan
in Milwaukee
.
, Cudahy served the United States as ambassador to a handful of European nations.
From September 6, 1933 until April 23, 1937, Cudahy served as the American ambassador to Poland
. His time in Poland was marked by a militarily backed government under Józef Piłsudski and continued tensions between Poland and Germany
under Adolf Hitler
.
From August 23, 1937 to January 15, 1940 Cudahy served as ambassador to Ireland.
From January 17, 1940 to July 18, 1940 Cudahy served as ambassador to both Belgium
(1939-1940) and Luxembourg
. He was forced to leave his post after Germany occupied Belgium and Luxembourg on May 10, 1940 and the nations set up governments-in-exile. Before he left, Cudahy personally interviewed Hitler and wrote the book The Armies March.
estate north of Milwaukee
.
His son, Michael Cudahy
, is the founder of Marquette Electronics and a major philanthropist in the city of Milwaukee
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Ireland
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. He was a Democrat
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...
.
Early life
Cudahy was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, the son of Patrick Cudahy
Patrick Cudahy
Patrick Cudahy, Jr. ; March 17, 1849 - July 25, 1919) was an American industrialist in the meat packing business and a patriarch of the Cudahy family.-Background:...
the meat packing
Meat packing industry
The meat packing industry handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock...
industrialist and Anna Cudahy. He graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
.
He served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a Lieutenant in Company B of the U.S. Army's 339th Infantry Regiment. This Regiment was part of the Polar Bear Expedition
Polar Bear Expedition
The Polar Bear Expedition was a contingent of about 5,000 U.S...
which was sent to North Russia to intervene on behalf of the anti-communist forces in the Russian Civil War. On November 14, 1918, Lt. Cudahy led the counter-attack that succeeded in breaking through and routing the 1,000 Bolshevik troops that on November 11th [Armistice Day] had encircled and attacked the 600 American, Canadian and Royal Scots soldiers who were holding the village of Toulgas on the Northern Dvina River. However, his eventual disillusionment with the campaign in North Russia led him to write (under a pseudonym) the book Archangel: The American War with Russia.
Back in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Cudahy headed his family's real estate company, building the Cudahy Tower Apartments on the shore of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.
Diplomatic service
In the turbulent times leading up to World War IIWorld 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...
, Cudahy served the United States as ambassador to a handful of European nations.
From September 6, 1933 until April 23, 1937, Cudahy served as the American ambassador to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. His time in Poland was marked by a militarily backed government under Józef Piłsudski and continued tensions between Poland and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
under Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
From August 23, 1937 to January 15, 1940 Cudahy served as ambassador to Ireland.
From January 17, 1940 to July 18, 1940 Cudahy served as ambassador to both Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1939-1940) and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. He was forced to leave his post after Germany occupied Belgium and Luxembourg on May 10, 1940 and the nations set up governments-in-exile. Before he left, Cudahy personally interviewed Hitler and wrote the book The Armies March.
Death and descendants
Cudahy died in 1943 when he was thrown from a horse he was riding on his Brown DeerBrown Deer, Wisconsin
Brown Deer is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a suburb of Milwaukee. The population was 11,999 at the 2010 census...
estate north of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.
His son, Michael Cudahy
Michael Cudahy (electronics)
Michael John Cudahy is an entrepreneur, business executive and philanthropist.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1924, Cudahy is the son of John Cudahy, United States ambassador to Ireland, Poland and Belgium...
, is the founder of Marquette Electronics and a major philanthropist in the city of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.