William J. Sebald

William Joseph Sebald (November 5, 1901, Baltimore, Maryland – August 10, 1980, Naples, Florida) served as United States Ambassador to Burma from April 1952 to July 1954, and to Australia from 1957 to 1961.

William J. Sebald
Sebald in June 1957.
United States Ambassador to Japan
In office 1947–1952
President	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	Joseph Grew
Succeeded by	Robert D. Murphy
United States Ambassador to Burma
In office April 25, 1952 – July 15, 1954
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	David McK. Key
Succeeded by	Joseph C. Satterthwaite
United States Ambassador to Australia
In office March 14, 1957 – October 31, 1961
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Douglas M. Moffat
Succeeded by	William C. Battle
Personal details
Born	November 5, 1901 Baltimore, Maryland
Died	August 10, 1980 (aged 78) Naples, Florida
Spouse(s)	Edith Frances deBecker
Alma mater	U.S. Naval Academy
Profession	Lawyer, Diplomat

Education and career

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1922.[1] Sebald moved to Kobe, Japan in 1925 as part of a officer's language program.[1] Sebald resigned from the Navy in 1930.[2]

In 1933, Sebald earned his juris doctor degree specializing in international law from the University of Maryland.[1][2] He moved back to Japan and practiced law at his father-in-laws firm from 1933-1939.[1][2] Sebald also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Maryland for his study and work in Japanese law in 1949.[2]

He served during World War II with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) back in the United States starting in 1939.[1] Then he was on the staff of Admiral Ernest King. He was a political adviser to General Douglas MacArthur, with ambassador rank.[2]

He was U.S. Ambassador to Burma (1952–1954), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (1954–1956), and Ambassador to Australia (1957–1961).[1][2]

Sebald retired in 1961.[1] He died at age 78 in Naples, Florida of emphysema.[2]

Personal life

Sebald met his wife Edith France deBecker in Kobe, Japan.[1] They were married in 1927.[1]

Works

• With MacArthur in Japan: A Personal History of the Occupation, Norton, 1965, ISBN 9780393336764

References

1. "Collection: William Sebald papers | Archival Collections". archives.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
2. Joyce, Maureen (1980-08-20). "William Sebald, 78, Dies". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-01.

External links

• "Oral History – Sebald, William J. (1901–1980)". U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
• William Joseph Sebald at Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State
• "William J. Sebald and the Occupation of Japan". The Asiatic Society of Japan. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
• William J. Sebald Papers, 1887–1980 MS 207 held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy