Richard W. Murphy
Encyclopedia
Richard William Murphy (born July 29, 1929, Boston, Massachusetts) is an American
diplomat.
After graduating from The Roxbury Latin School in 1947, he received BAs from Harvard University
in 1951 and from Emmanuel College
, University of Cambridge
in 1953. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army
.
Muphy started his career in the United States Foreign Service
as Vice Consul in Salisbury
, Rhodesia
(1955–58). From 1959 to 1971 he worked for the Middle Eastern Bureau. He was the United States ambassador
to Mauritania
(1971–74), Syria
(1974–78), the Philippines
(1978–81), and Saudi Arabia
(1981–83). He served as the United States Assistant Secretary of State
for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs from 1983 to 1989.
From October 1, 1993 to June 30, 2004 he served as director of the Middle East Rountable at the Council on Foreign Relations
.
He is married to Anne Cook and has three children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat.
After graduating from The Roxbury Latin School in 1947, he received BAs 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...
in 1951 and from Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1953. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Muphy started his career in 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...
as Vice Consul in Salisbury
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(1955–58). From 1959 to 1971 he worked for the Middle Eastern Bureau. He was the United States ambassador
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
to Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
(1971–74), Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
(1974–78), the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1978–81), and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
(1981–83). He served as the 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...
for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs from 1983 to 1989.
From October 1, 1993 to June 30, 2004 he served as director of the Middle East Rountable at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
He is married to Anne Cook and has three children.
External links
- Short biography
- "Nomination of Richard W. Murphy to be an Assistant Secretary of State" at the Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryRonald Reagan Presidential LibraryThe Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs is the presidential library and final resting place of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. Designed by Hugh Stubbins and Associates, the library is located in Simi Valley, California, about northwest of...
- Middle East Rountable, at the Council on Foreign Relations