Taylor G. Belcher
Encyclopedia
Taylor Garrison Belcher was a United States Ambassador to Cyprus
and Peru
who helped mediate conflicts in both countries.
. His parents were Taylor Belcher and Miriam (Frazee) Belcher. He graduated from Brown University
with a degree in international trade and finance in 1941.
, Belcher served in the Navy
as an officer of the battleship, Alabama
. After the war, he joined the State Department
. During his tenure with the State Department, he was stationed at Mexico City
, Glasgow
and Washington.
in 1964. He served in that position until 1969. Belcher was awarded the Distinguished Service Award
as a result of his peace-keeping abilities during the eruption of violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1969, he was appointed ambassador to Peru by President Richard Nixon
. He served as ambassador to Peru until his retirement in 1974.
.
in Garrison, New York
.
Community Hospital in New York
on August 6, 1990 at the age of 70. According to a family spokesman, he died of cancer
.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
who helped mediate conflicts in both countries.
Early life
Taylor Garrison Belcher was born in Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. His parents were Taylor Belcher and Miriam (Frazee) Belcher. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
with a degree in international trade and finance in 1941.
Family
Belcher married Edith Anthony on October 22, 1942. They had two sons, Anthony and Taylor III.Early 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...
, Belcher served in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an officer of the battleship, Alabama
USS Alabama (BB-60)
USS Alabama , a South Dakota-class battleship, was the sixth completed ship of the United States Navy named for the U.S. state of Alabama, however she was only the third commissioned ship with that name. Alabama was commissioned in 1942 and served in World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific...
. After the war, he joined the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. During his tenure with the State Department, he was stationed at Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Washington.
Political career
Belcher was appointed ambassador to Cyprus by President Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
in 1964. He served in that position until 1969. Belcher was awarded the Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
as a result of his peace-keeping abilities during the eruption of violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1969, he was appointed ambassador to Peru by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. He served as ambassador to Peru until his retirement in 1974.
Other activities
Belcher served in various organizations. At the time of his death, he was a director of the Putnam County Historical Society, a trustee and chairman of the Alice and Hamilton Fish Library, a trustee of the Malcolm Gordon School, and president of the Garrison Station Plaza and the Garrison's Landing Association. He was also a former chairman of the Heritage Task Force for the Hudson ValleyHudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
.
Later life
After his retirement from public service, Belcher lived in Garrison's LandingGarrison Landing Historic District
The Garrison Landing Historic District, also known as Garrison's Landing, is a small commercial and residential area located between what is now the Metro-North Hudson Line and the Hudson River in Garrison, New York, United States. Its buildings were mostly erected in the 1850s, around the time the...
in Garrison, New York
Garrison, New York
Garrison is a hamlet in Putnam County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Philipstown and is on the east side of the Hudson River, across from the United States Military Academy at West Point...
.
Death
Belcher died at PeekskillPeekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
Community Hospital in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on August 6, 1990 at the age of 70. According to a family spokesman, he died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.