Leland B. Harrison
Encyclopedia
Leland B. Harrison was a United States
diplomat
.
on April 25, 1883, the son of W. Henry Harrison and Helen (Skidmore) Harrison. He was educated at Eton College
, Harvard College
, and Harvard Law School
.
After law school, Harrison became the private secretary of United States Ambassador to Japan
Thomas J. O'Brien. He was appointed Third Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo
on June 10, 1908. He later filled posts in the United States embassies in Peking, London
, and Bogotá
. In 1918, he became diplomatic secretary of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace
. He later became counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Paris
.
In 1921, Harrison moved to Washington, D.C.
to become assistant to the Conference on the Limitation on Armament. On March 21, 1922, Harrison was named United States Assistant Secretary of State
and he held this office from March 31, 1922 to June 30, 1924.
He married Anne C. Coleman on June 27, 1925.
In 1927, Harrison was named Minister to Sweden
, a post he held from May 31, 1927 to November 11, 1929. He also headed the U.S. delegation to the International Telegraph Conference in Brussels
in 1928. In 1929, he became Minister to Uruguay
, holding this post from April 11, 1930 to October 9, 1930. He then resigned temporarily from the United States Foreign Service
. A short time later, however, he returned to government service as chief of the International Relations Division of the United States Tariff Commission. On May 15, 1935, he was named Minister to Romania
, serving there from July 24, 1935 to September 3, 1937. He was then Minister to Switzerland
from September 10, 1937 to October 14, 1947.
Harrison retired on February 29, 1948. He died in Washington, D.C. on June 6, 1951. He was buried in the cemetery of the Church of St. James the Less
in Philadelphia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
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...
.
Biography
Leland B. Harrison was born 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...
on April 25, 1883, the son of W. Henry Harrison and Helen (Skidmore) Harrison. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
After law school, Harrison became the private secretary of United States Ambassador to Japan
United States Ambassador to Japan
The United States Ambassador to Japan is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States to Japan. Since the opening of Japan by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, in 1854, the U.S. maintained diplomatic relations with Japan, except for the ten-year period following the attack on...
Thomas J. O'Brien. He was appointed Third Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
on June 10, 1908. He later filled posts in the United States embassies in Peking, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
. In 1918, he became diplomatic secretary of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace
American Commission to Negotiate Peace
The American Commission to Negotiate Peace, successor to The Inquiry, participated in the peace negotiations at the Treaty of Versailles, January 18 — December 9, 1919. Frank Lyon Polk headed the commission in 1919...
. He later became counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1921, Harrison moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to become assistant to the Conference on the Limitation on Armament. On March 21, 1922, Harrison was named United States Assistant Secretary of State
United States Assistant Secretary of State
In modern times, Assistant Secretary of State is a title used for many executive positions in the United States State Department. A set of six Assistant Secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs manage diplomatic missions within their designated geographic regions, plus one...
and he held this office from March 31, 1922 to June 30, 1924.
He married Anne C. Coleman on June 27, 1925.
In 1927, Harrison was named Minister to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
, a post he held from May 31, 1927 to November 11, 1929. He also headed the U.S. delegation to the International Telegraph Conference in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1928. In 1929, he became Minister to Uruguay
United States Ambassador to Uruguay
The following is a list of United States ambassadors, or other chiefs of mission, to Uruguay. The current title given by the United States State Department to this position is Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
, holding this post from April 11, 1930 to October 9, 1930. He then resigned temporarily from 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...
. A short time later, however, he returned to government service as chief of the International Relations Division of the United States Tariff Commission. On May 15, 1935, he was named Minister to Romania
United States Ambassador to Romania
A United States diplomatic representative to Romania has existed since 1880. The United States formally recognized Romania in 1878, following the Treaty of Berlin; diplomatic relations were opened in 1880, and American diplomats were sent to the country. Until the early 20th century, most...
, serving there from July 24, 1935 to September 3, 1937. He was then Minister to Switzerland
United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
This is a list of United States Ambassadors to Switzerland.Since 1997, the US ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein. The position is generally held by a political appointee, not a career diplomat.-Ambassadors:-See also:...
from September 10, 1937 to October 14, 1947.
Harrison retired on February 29, 1948. He died in Washington, D.C. on June 6, 1951. He was buried in the cemetery of the Church of St. James the Less
Church of St. James the Less
The Church of St. James the Less is a historic Episcopal church building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was architecturally influential. As St...
in Philadelphia.