Brand Whitlock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
| In office May 1, 1919 – July 20, 1921 | |
| President | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Henry P. Fletcher |
| 34th Mayor of Toledo | |
| In office June 6, 1906 – April 9, 1914 | |
| Preceded by | Robert H. Finch |
| Succeeded by | Carl H. Keller |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Brand Whitlock (1869-03-04)March 4, 1869 Urbana, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | May 24, 1934(1934-05-24) (aged 65) Cannes, France |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Brainerd (m. 1894; d. 1910) Ella Brainerd(m. 1915) |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession |
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| Signature |  |
Brand Whitlock (March 4, 1869 – May 24, 1934) was anAmerican journalist, attorney, politician,Georgist, four-time mayor ofToledo, Ohio elected on the Independent ticket; ambassador toBelgium, and author of numerous articles and books, both novels and non-fiction.
Born Joseph Brand Whitlock inUrbana, Ohio, son of the Rev. Elias and Mollie Lavinia (Brand) Whitlock, he was educated in the public schools and by private tutors. Rather than attend college, Whitlock began working as a reporter for several papers inToledo, Ohio, includingThe Toledo Blade.
In 1891, he moved toChicago to work forThe Chicago Herald.[1] He covered baseball, including longtime Chicago captain-managerCap Anson, whom he sometimes referred to in print as "Grampa."[2] He also covered the1892 Republican National Convention and the 1892 Illinois legislative session.[2] Whitlock joinedthe Whitechapel Club.
His political writing attracted attention by Illinois politicians, and Whitlock was offered a job as Gov.John Peter Altgeld's personal secretary; instead he took a position with the Secretary of State.[3] While in Springfield, he also studied the law underSenator J. M. Palmer; he was admitted to the bar in 1894, at the age of 25.[2]
Whitlock had married Susan Brainerd in 1892, but she died four months after their wedding.[4] In 1895 he married again, choosing her sister Nell Brainerd.[4]
In 1893, Whitlock prepared the pardon documents for theHaymarket Affair's convicted men: Fielden, Neebe, and Schwab. After Gov. Altgeld signed the pardons, Whitlock commented, "The storm will break now," to which the governor replied, "It was merely doing right."[5]
Whitlock became very active inIllinois Democratic Party politics. In 1894, he was Chair of the Democratic Finance Committee and in charge of arrangements for the state convention.[6]
After the defeat of Gov. Altgeld in 1896, Whitlock returned toToledo in 1897, where he established a successful legal practice. Whitlock provided legal services to the Mayor of Toledo,Samuel M. Jones, a.k.a. "Golden Rule" Jones. In one case, Whitlock successfully argued to overturn the Ohio state statutes that governed municipalities.[7]
Whitlock entered politics more directly in Toledo, running on the Independent ticket for mayor; he was elected four times from 1906 to 1914. He was one of a number of Progressive politicians elected as mayors of major Midwestern cities in 1911, following the unexpected sweep of theMilwaukee Socialists in 1910. He declined a fifth nomination as mayor when recruited for a diplomatic post.
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After finishing his last term as mayor, in 1913 Whitlock was appointed minister toBelgium byPresident Wilson. When theFirst World War broke out, his responsibilities were increased as he was given representation for seven additional countries in wartime. His position was extremely sensitive after theGerman occupation of Belgium. His adroit performance of his duties in the office won him an international reputation for tact, zeal, and efficiency. Whitlock ensured food aid sent by theCommittee for Relief in Belgium went to Belgian citizens rather than the German occupation forces.[8]
With the United States' declaration of war against Germany in April 1917, Whitlock needed to leave Belgium. He insisted on ensuring he accompanied other Americans out of Belgium, and crossed into Switzerland, which was neutral. During the war, he visitedKing Albert of Belgium at the Allied battle front.
After the signing of the armistice in November 1918 and the restoration of the Belgian government, Whitlock returned to Brussels as minister. In 1919, he went to the United States for a visit. While he was at home, the United States' representation in Belgium was raised to rank of an embassy, and Whitlock became an ambassador.[9][10]
Whitlock wrote numerous newspaper articles, short stories, novels, essays, biographies, non-fiction and memoirs. His novels dealt with political and social issues. The anarchist activistEmma Goldman described Whitlock's novelThe Turn of the Balance as "the greatest American exposé of crime in the making" and argued that its characters demonstrate "how the legal aspects of crime, and the methods of dealing with it, help to create the disease which is undermining our entire social life."[11]
Non-fiction
Fiction
For his service to Belgium, Whitlock received numerous honors, including theOrder of Leopold knighthood.[13] He was an early member of theAmerican Academy of Arts and Letters.[14] A boulevard in Brussels was named for him in theWoluwe-Saint-Lambert municipality.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by post created | United States Ambassador to Belgium 1919–1921 | Succeeded by |
| Chargé d'Affaires |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Minister Resident | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
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