Robert H. Thayer
Encyclopedia
Robert Helyer Thayer was an American lawyer
, naval officer and diplomat
.
, Massachusetts
, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer
(1863–1934), headmaster of St. Mark's School
from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis Thayer (1871–1962). He attended St. Mark's School, then studied for degrees from Amherst College
and Harvard University
. His elder brother, Sigourney Thayer
(1896–1944), was a theatrical producer, aviator and poet.
under Gen William Joseph Donovan
.
Thayer assisted Charles Lindbergh
's lead lawyer, Col. Henry S. Breckinridge on the famous Lindbergh kidnapping
case in 1932, staying at the Charles A Lindbergh residence in Hopewell
, NJ, until the body of the child was found on 12 May 1932. Bruno Richard Hauptmann was executed for this crime in 1936.
, Thayer was commissioned in the US Navy. He was an intelligence officer in the South Pacific early in the war and then went to Europe, where he took part in the invasions of Normandy
and southern France. He returned to the Pacific in time for the invasion of the Philippines
.
, who became secretary of state in the Dwight D. Eisenhower
administration, at the organizing conference of the United Nations
at San Francisco.
In 1950, he began his formal career in diplomacy, as an assistant to the US Ambassador to France
. From 1955 – 1958, US minister to Romania
and then went to the State Department as assistant secretary for educational and cultural affairs.
from 1966 and was vice-chairman from 1975 – 1977.
He died in Washington DC on 26 January 1984 of leukemia
.
and Congresswoman Ruth Baker Pratt
.
They had three children:
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, naval officer and 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...
.
Early life
Thayer was born in SouthboroughSouthborough, Massachusetts
Southborough is an affluent town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It incorporates the smaller villages of Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. Its name is often informally shortened to Southboro, a usage seen on many area signs and maps. Its population was 9,767 at the 2010...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer
William Greenough Thayer
Rev. William Greenough Thayer DD was an American educator, headmaster of St. Mark's School from 1894–1930.-Early life:...
(1863–1934), headmaster of St. Mark's School
St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)
St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on in Southborough, Massachusetts, from Boston. It was founded in 1865 as an all-boys' school by Joseph Burnett, a wealthy native of Southborough who developed and marketed the world-famous Burnett Vanilla Extract . ...
from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis Thayer (1871–1962). He attended St. Mark's School, then studied for degrees from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and 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...
. His elder brother, Sigourney Thayer
Sigourney Thayer
Sigourney Thayer was an American theatrical producer, World War I aviator, and poet.Thayer was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer, headmaster of St. Mark's School from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis. He was the brother of Robert H...
(1896–1944), was a theatrical producer, aviator and poet.
Legal career
Thayer practiced law 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...
under Gen William Joseph Donovan
William Joseph Donovan
William Joseph Donovan was a United States soldier, lawyer and intelligence officer, best remembered as the wartime head of the Office of Strategic Services...
.
Thayer assisted Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
's lead lawyer, Col. Henry S. Breckinridge on the famous Lindbergh kidnapping
Lindbergh kidnapping
The kidnapping of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was the abduction of the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The toddler, 18 months old at the time, was abducted from his family home in East Amwell, New Jersey, near the town of Hopewell, New Jersey, on the evening of...
case in 1932, staying at the Charles A Lindbergh residence in Hopewell
Hopewell
-USA:*Hopewell, Alabama *Hopewell, Arkansas *Hopewell, California*Hopewell, Connecticut *Hopewell, Florida...
, NJ, until the body of the child was found on 12 May 1932. Bruno Richard Hauptmann was executed for this crime in 1936.
Naval career
During 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...
, Thayer was commissioned in the US Navy. He was an intelligence officer in the South Pacific early in the war and then went to Europe, where he took part in the invasions of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and southern France. He returned to the Pacific in time for the invasion of 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...
.
Diplomatic career
In 1945, he was an assistant to John Foster DullesJohn Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
, who became secretary of state in the Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
administration, at the organizing conference of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
at San Francisco.
In 1950, he began his formal career in diplomacy, as an assistant to the US Ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. From 1955 – 1958, US minister to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and then went to the State Department as assistant secretary for educational and cultural affairs.
Later life
Thayer was appointed a trustee of the National Trust for Historic PreservationNational Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
from 1966 and was vice-chairman from 1975 – 1977.
He died in Washington DC on 26 January 1984 of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
.
Personal life
He married Virginia Pratt (1905–1979) in 1926. She was the daughter of lawyer, financier and philanthropist John Teele PrattJohn Teele Pratt
John Teele Pratt was an American corporate attorney, philanthropist, music impresario, and financier.- Early life :...
and Congresswoman Ruth Baker Pratt
Ruth Baker Pratt
Ruth Baker Pratt , was an American politician and the first congresswoman to be elected from New York.-Early life:...
.
They had three children:
- Robert H. Thayer, Jr.
- Stephen Badger Thayer
- Sally Sears Thayer