Felix Cole

Felix Cole (1887 – July 23, 1969) was an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia and Ceylon. Prior to his service as an ambassador he served as a consul in Russia, Romania, Australia, Poland, Latvia, French Algeria, and Liberia.

Felix Cole
1st United States Ambassador to Ceylon
In office
August 3, 1949 – October 30, 1949
Succeeded byJoseph C. Satterthwaite
United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
In office
October 5, 1945 – October 8, 1947
Preceded byJohn K. Caldwell
Succeeded byGeorge Robert Merrell
Personal details
Born1887
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 1969
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Spouse(s)Tataiana Zakushniak
Jeannette Watrous Berry
RelativesNelson Dewey (grandfather)[1]
EducationHarvard University
George Washington University Law School

Early life and education

Felix Cole was born in 1887, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Kate Dewey and John Cole. In 1910, he graduated from Harvard University and later graduated with a law degree from George Washington University Law School. After graduating from George Washington University Law School he started working for the Boston Herald. Cole's grandfather, Nelson Dewey, was the first governor of Wisconsin.[1][2][3]

On October 10, 1915, he married Tataiana Zakushniak, a Russian dancer, while serving as the United States consul in Petrograd, Russia, and had one child with her before he filed for divorce in 1926.[4][5]

Career

In 1915, Cole received a job in the United States Department of State. He served as the United States consul in Arkhangelsk, Russian Empire.[1] He was arrested by the Bolsheviks on July 7, 1918, and remained imprisoned until the Allies occupied Arkhangelsk in August.[6]

In 1920, Cole was assigned as the United States consul in Bucharest, Romania.[7] In 1924, he was assigned as the United States consul in Sydney, Australia.[8] In 1928, he was assigned as the United States consul in Warsaw, Poland.[9] During the 1930s he served as the Charge d'Affaires in Riga, Latvia.[10] In 1944, he was appointed to serve as the first secretary of the United States legation to Liberia and as the consul general in Monrovia, Liberia.[11]

During the 1940s he served as a consul in French Algeria and during his tenure he advised the United States against intervening against the actions of former Vichy officials on behalf of Algeria's 150,000 Jews.[12]

Ambassador

On February 5, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Cole to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia and was later approved by the United States Senate on February 20.[13][14] On October 5, 1945, he presented his credentials and served until October 8, 1947.[15] George Robert Merrell was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to replace Cole.[16]

On March 29, 1948, President Truman appointed Cole to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ceylon and was later approved by the United States Senate on April 7.[17][18] Cole was the first person to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ceylon.[19] He presented his credentials on August 3, 1949, and served until October 30, 1949.[15] Joseph C. Satterthwaite was appointed by Truman to replace Cole.[20]

Later life

On July 18, 1953, Cole married Jeannette Watrous Berry.[21] He later served as chairman of the American Friends for Russian Freedom.[1]

On July 23, 1969, Cole died either at home or at the Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, New Jersey.[1][22][2]

References
  1. "Felix Cole, Diplomat". The Montclair Times. July 31, 1969. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Felix Cole, Montclair REsident, Served as U.S. Ambassador". The News. July 26, 1969. p. 28. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Parents". The Capital Times. March 29, 1931. p. 35. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Divorce with Tataiana Zakushniak". The Baltimore Sun. August 10, 1926. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Divorce with Tataiana Zakushniak". Evening Star. May 11, 1928. p. 35. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Anti-American Feeling Bolsheviki Brought Out". The Chattanooga News. August 7, 1918. p. 7. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "New Places For Consuls". The Washington Post. November 27, 1920. p. 8. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Changes in Foreign Service". Evening Star. December 15, 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Named Consul General in Warsaw, Poland". Evening Star. August 28, 1928. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Red Flag For U.S. Legation At Riga". Daily News. June 11, 1932. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Rock Island Man Is On Liberia Consul Staff". The Dispatch. August 28, 1944. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "The Jews of Spain Page 251".
  13. "Cole Envoy to Ethiopia". Courier Post. February 5, 1945. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "United States Senate approves Ethiopia nomination". Great Falls Tribune. February 20, 1945. p. 8. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Felix Cole (1887–1969)". United States Department of State. July 31, 1969. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "George R. Merrill Named Minister To Ethiopia". The Courier-Journal. April 16, 1947. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Ohioan Nominated Counsel of Treasury". The Birmingham News. March 29, 1948. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Seante Okehs MacVeagh". The Waco News-Tribune. April 8, 1948. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "First Ambassador". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 23, 1949. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Envoy To Ceylon Named". Star Tribune. September 8, 1949. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Marriage to Jeannette Watrous Berry". The Montclair Times. July 23, 1953. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Ex-Ambassador Dies". The Times-Tribune. July 26, 1969. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
John K. Caldwell		 U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia
1945–1947		 Succeeded by
George Robert Merrell
Preceded by
Bernard Gufler		 U.S. Ambassador to Ceylon
1961–1964		 Succeeded by
Binky Barnes
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