Cyrus E. Woods (September 3, 1861 – December 8, 1938) was an American attorney, diplomat and politician.
He was born September 3, 1861, inClearfield, Pennsylvania, to Matthew Woods and Catheine/Katharine (Bella) Spice/Speece.[1] He attendedLafayette College.[2] He later graduated from theUniversity of Pennsylvania with a law degree in 1889. Woods practiced law inPhiladelphia and then inPittsburgh, where he became associated with the interests of theMellon family. On January 18, 1893, Woods married the former Mary Todd Marchand,[3] a great-granddaughter ofJames Todd, former state Attorney General.
In 1900, Woods made his first bid for political office, successfully contesting theWestmoreland County-based39th district of thePennsylvania State Senate. He served in the Senate for two terms, from 1901 to 1907.[1][4]
Woods received his first diplomatic appointment in 1912, whenPresidentWilliam Howard Taft named him theUnited States' Envoy to Portugal, with the official title ofEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, as the United States had not yet elevated the post to ambassador status.[1]
In 1915,GovernorMartin Brumbaugh appointed himSecretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Woods would serve six years in the post, before resigning in 1921 to take-up the post ofAmbassador to Spain.[1] In 1923, he moved to the post ofAmbassador to Japan. During his time in Japan, he organized the American relief effort in response to the devastating1923 Great Kantō earthquake, before resigning in 1924.
In 1929, GovernorJohn Fisher, with whom Woods had served in the State Senate,[5] appointed himPennsylvania Attorney General. Woods served in the post, his final political or diplomatic appointment, for eighteen months.[1]
Woods died December 8, 1938, in Philadelphia, where he had gone for medical treatment. After his death, his widow established a foundation which became theWestmoreland Museum of American Art.[6]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Japan 1923–1924 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Spain 1921–1923 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Envoy to Portugal 1912–1913 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Attorney General of Pennsylvania 1929–1930 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1915–1921 | Succeeded by |
| Pennsylvania State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member of thePennsylvania Senate for the39th District 1901–1907 | Succeeded by |
| Ministers Plenipotentiary to Spain (1779–1825) | |
|---|---|
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain (1825–1913) | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Spain (1913–present) | |
| Resident Minister | |
|---|---|
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | |
| Minister Plenipotentiary | |
|---|---|
| Chargé d'Affaires | |
| Minister Resident |
|
| Minister Resident/Consul General | |
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
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