Adolph W. Schmidt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 17thUnited States Ambassador toCanada | |
| In office September 11, 1969 – January 29, 1974 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Harold F. Linder |
| Succeeded by | William J. Porter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1904-09-13)September 13, 1904 |
| Died | December 17, 2000(2000-12-17) (aged 96) |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Mellon family |
| Children | Thomas Schmidt Helen Schmidt |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Diplomat,Philanthropist |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  Office of Strategic Services |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Adolph William Schmidt (September 13, 1904 – December 17, 2000) was a prominentPittsburgh philanthropist who served asUnited States Ambassador to Canada from 1969 to 1974.
Adolph W. Schmidt was born in 1904 and raised inMcKeesport, Pennsylvania.[1] He was educated atPrinceton University andHarvard Business School.[2] He met his future wife, Helen "Patsy" Mellon (great-granddaughter ofThomas Mellon, founder of theMellon Bank), during afox hunt at theRolling Rock Club in theLigonier Valley.[3] The two married in 1936.
Schmidt joined the military following the outbreak ofWorld War II. He served in theOffice of Strategic Services (OSS) as anintelligence officer during the war, obtaining the rank ofLieutenant colonel. For a part of his service he served abroad in Africa, while his wife Helen was inWashington, D.C. working for theUnited States Navy.[4]
After the war, Schmidt became president of theA. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, serving in that role from 1946 to 1969.[2] In this capacity, he played a major role in "Renaissance I", theurban renewal ofPittsburgh.[1] He was also heavily involved in the creation of theUniversity of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.[2] Schmidt also served as president of thePresbyterian-University Hospital, was one of the co-founders of thePittsburgh Playhouse, and was the first chairman of theThree Rivers Arts Festival.[1]
Schmidt began his diplomatic career when he represented the United States at the 1957 Conference on North Atlantic Community and at the 1962 Atlantic Convention ofNATO Nations.[1] In 1969,PresidentRichard Nixon named SchmidtUnited States Ambassador to Canada. Ambassador Schmidt presented his credentials on September 11, 1969, and served as the U.S. representative inOttawa until January 29, 1974.
Schmidt died on December 17, 2000, at the age of 96. He was listed as one of the "Souls who enriched our lives, our region" by the Pittsburgh Tribune in 2002.[1]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
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| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Canada September 11, 1969 – January 29, 1974 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
