Richard Teller Crane, II, was the first United States diplomat

United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia

Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1918 at the end of World War I, the Czechs, Moravians, and Slovaks united to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia...

 accredited to Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...

 with the title Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. He received a recess appointment

Recess appointment

A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...

 from President Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...

 on April 23, 1919 and was subsequently confirmed by the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 on June 26, 1919. Crane presented his credentials to the Czechoslovak government on June 11, 1919 and remained in office until December 5, 1921. Born August 12, 1882 in Denver, Colorado, Crane was the son of Charles Richard Crane

Charles Richard Crane

Charles Richard Crane was a wealthy American businessman, heir to a large industrial fortune and connoisseur of Arab culture, a noted Arabist. His widespread business interests gave him entree into domestic and international political affairs where he enjoyed privileged access to many...

, a diplomat and prominent supporter of President Wilson, and the grandson of Richard T. Crane

Richard T. Crane

Richard Teller Crane , son of Timothy Botchford Crane and Maria Ryerson, was the founder of R.T. Crane & Bro., a Chicago-based manufacturer.-Nineteenth Century:...

, a Chicago manufacturer. Richard Crane, II, married Ellen Douglas Bruce in 1909 and they made their home at the Westover

Westover

Westover may refer to:in the United Kingdom* Westover, Hampshirein the United States*Westover School, in Connecticut*Westover , listed on the NRHP in Georgia*Westover, Maryland...

 plantation near Charles City County, Virginia

Charles City County, Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...

. Richard Crane, II, died on October 3, 1938 and was buried in the Westover

Westover

Westover may refer to:in the United Kingdom* Westover, Hampshirein the United States*Westover School, in Connecticut*Westover , listed on the NRHP in Georgia*Westover, Maryland...

estate burial grounds.