William Emmanuel Rappard (April 22, 1883 – April 29, 1958) was an influential academic and diplomat of the interwar-period, a passionate defender of the international scene.

He was Co-Founder of the Graduate Institute of International Studies

Graduate Institute of International Studies

The Graduate Institute of International Studies, best known as HEI , was founded in 1927 as one of the first institutions in the world dedicated to the study of international relations...

 (GIIS), Professor of Economic History at the University of Geneva

University of Geneva

The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...

, Rector of the University of Geneva, Director of the Mandate Department of the League of Nations

League of Nations

The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...

, and Swiss Representative at the International Labour Organization

International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...

 (ILO), as well as at the United Nations Organization (UN) and at the United States Embassy.

Rappard was a member of various Swiss diplomatic missions including service with the Swiss delegation to the peace conference in France that ended the First World War. He made a strong impression on 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...

 and was highly influential in persuading him to choose Geneva as headquarters of the League of Nations beginning in 1920.

The headquarters of the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland (Centre William Rappard

Centre William Rappard

The Centre William Rappard at Rue de Lausanne 154, Geneva, Switzerland, was built between 1923 and 1926 to house the International Labour Office . It was the first building in Geneva designed to house an international organization...

, built to house the International Labour Organization) and the Chemin William Rappard in Bellevue, Switzerland

Bellevue, Switzerland

Bellevue is a municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland.-History:The village of Colovrex is first mentioned in 1257 as Colovray...

, have been named after him.