1. Laurence Adolph Steinhardt was an American economist, lawyer, and senior diplomat of the United States Department of State who served as US Ambassador to six countries.
16 Facts About Laurence Steinhardt
1. 2.
Laurence Steinhardt served as US First Minister to Sweden, US Ambassador to Peru, US Ambassador to the Soviet Union, US Ambassador to Turkey, US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia and United States Ambassador to Canada.
3.
Laurence Steinhardt was killed in a US embassy plane crash on March 28,1950, in Ramsayville, Ontario, Canada, while serving as US Ambassador to Canada.
4.
Laurence Steinhardt was the first United States Ambassador to be killed in the line of duty.
5.
Laurence A Steinhardt was born October 6,1892, at his family home in New York City.
6.
Laurence Steinhardt became a member of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity in 1909, National President in 1915, and Supreme Rex for life from 1939 to 1950.
7.
Laurence Steinhardt was permanent treasurer of the class of 1913 and class of 1915 Columbia Law School.
8.
Laurence Steinhardt married Dulcie Yates Hofmann, daughter of Henry Hofmann and Ina Maitland Yates Hofmann, on January 15,1923.
9.
Laurence Steinhardt served as counsel for the Housing and Health Division of the War Department in 1919, and was a member of the law firm Guggenheimer, Untermyer and Marshall from 1920 to 1933.
10.
Laurence Steinhardt entered the US diplomatic service at ambassadorial rank in 1933 at the behest of President Franklin D Roosevelt as First Minister to Sweden, US Ambassador to Peru, US Ambassador to the Soviet Union, US Ambassador to Turkey, US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, United States Ambassador to Canada.
11.
Laurence Steinhardt was awarded the Order of the Polar Star in 1936 by King Gustav V of Sweden; inscribed in The Golden Book, Jewish National Fund, Jewish Agency for Palestine, 1944; awarded the United States Typhus Commission Medal in 1945 by President Franklin D Roosevelt; awarded the Medal for Merit in 1946 by President Harry S Truman; awarded posthumously the Honorary Doctor of Laws, Hamilton College, 1950.
12.
In 1941, immediately prior to Germany's bombing assault on Moscow and with only six hours notice, Laurence Steinhardt sent his wife, daughter and her governess, each carrying only one suitcase, out to Stockholm on one of the last planes departing with families of diplomats to any safer destinations within Europe.
13.
Laurence Steinhardt then returned his attention to the ongoing preparations to evacuate and accompany the remaining US embassy staff to Kuybyshev and took seven days by train to go some 400 miles east of Moscow to this destination, designated by the Kremlin for remaining diplomats.
14.
Laurence Steinhardt was known within family circles to say he took great pride in working alongside his amazing staff in his embassy postings.
15.
On January 12,1942, Laurence Steinhardt was appointed Ambassador to Turkey.
16.
Laurence Steinhardt married the former Dulcie Yates Hofmann on January 15,1923; one daughter, Dulcie-Ann Steinhardt.