Irwin B. Laughlin | |
|---|---|
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| United States Ambassador toGreece | |
| In office 1924–1926 | |
| President | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Edward Capps |
| Succeeded by | Robert Peet Skinner |
| 40thUnited States Ambassador toSpain | |
| In office December 24, 1929 – April 12, 1933 | |
| President | Herbert HooverFranklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Ogden H. Hammond |
| Succeeded by | Claude G. Bowers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1871-04-26)April 26, 1871 |
| Died | April 18, 1941(1941-04-18) (aged 69) |
| Spouse | Therese E. Iselin |
Irwin Boyle Laughlin (April 26, 1871 – April 18, 1941) was an Americandiplomat. He served asMinister to Greece from 1924 to 1926 andAmbassador to Spain from 1929 to 1933.
Laughlin was born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1871 to George McCully Laughlin (1842–1908) and Isabel McKennan Laughlin. His father served in theUnion Army during theCivil War, participating in the campaigns of theFifth Corps of theArmy of the Potomac fromAntietam toAppomattox. His paternal grandfather wasJames H. Laughlin, a pioneer in Pittsburgh's iron and steel industries, and his maternal grandfather wasWilliam McKennan (1816–1893), afederal judge for theThird Circuit court of appeals.[1][2]
Laughlin attendedSt. Paul's School inConcord, New Hampshire, andYale University, where he graduated in 1893. After graduation he entered the office of theJones and Laughlin Steel Company, established byBenjamin Franklin Jones and his grandfather, James H. Laughlin. He was the treasurer of the company from 1900 to 1903.[2]
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Laughlin left the steel industry in 1903 to pursue a career in theForeign Service. In 1904 he became private secretary toLloyd Carpenter Griscom, then serving asMinister to Japan. He was appointed second secretary to theAmerican legation in Tokyo in 1905, during theRusso-Japanese War.[3]
In 1906, he was secretary to the American legation inBangkok and Consul General ofSiam. He was second secretary to the American legation inPeking in 1907, and then served in a similar capacity inSaint Petersburg,Athens,Montenegro, andParis.[3]
In 1910, he served as secretary of the special envoy to theSultan of Turkey. He was secretary to theEmbassy in Berlin andchargé d'affaires in 1911. He was secretary of theEmbassy in London from 1912 to 1917 and counselor of the embassy from 1916 to 1919.[3]
Laughlin then took an extended leave of absence from the Foreign Service in 1919, during which time he built theMeridian House at 1630 Crescent Place inWashington, D.C., on land he had purchased in 1912. He filled the house with his collection of 18th century French drawings and Oriental porcelains and screens.
He returned to diplomacy in 1921 as secretary to SenatorHenry Cabot Lodge at theWashington Naval Conference. In 1924, PresidentCalvin Coolidge appointed himEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Greece, a position he held for two years. PresidentHerbert Hoover appointed himAmbassador to Spain in 1929, and he served until 1933.[3]
During Laughlin's ambassadorship to Spain, KingAlfonso XIII left the country and theSecond Spanish Republic was established. When the proclamation of the Republic was issued on April 14, 1931, Laughlin, who had supported Alfonso XIII's efforts to institute a constitutional monarchy, reacted cautiously. He advisedSecretary of StateHenry L. Stimson against extending formal recognition to the Republic. Stimson ultimately recognized the provisional government afterGreat Britain had done so but was careful not to use the term "Spanish Republic" and stated that the U.S. government did not "wish to give the appearance of prejudging events."[4][5]
On September 18, 1912, Laughlin married Therese E. Iselin, daughter of New York bankerAdrian Iselin Jr. They had two children, Alexander Laughlin and Gertrude Laughlin. Gertrude married Rear AdmiralHubert Winthrop Chanler. Laughlin died in 1941 at his home in Washington D.C. at the age of 69.[3]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Greece 1924–1926 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Spain 1929–1933 | Succeeded by |
 Kingdom of Greece(1868–1924) | |
|---|---|
| Second Hellenic Republic | |
| Kingdom of Greece (1935–1973) Military junta (1967–1974) | |
 Junta-declared Republic (1973–1974) Third Hellenic Republic(1974–present) | |
| Ministers Plenipotentiary to Spain (1779–1825) | |
|---|---|
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain (1825–1913) | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Spain (1913–present) | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
