Herbert Pell

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Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr. (February 16, 1884 - 1961) was a United States Representative from New York, U.S. Minister to Portugal, U.S. Minister to Hungary, and instigator and member of the United Nations War Crimes Commission.

Mr. Pell was an internationalist and progressive among a class of economic conservatives and geopolitical isolationists. He was the leading American seeking to build awareness of and prevent the Holocaust -- and prosecute those responsible -- as the principal U.S. sponsor and member of the United Nations War Crimes Commission. Mr. Pell had extensive first-hand experience in international affairs, having lived many years in Europe. He also served on the advisory committee of Yenching University, later merged with Peking University.

Born in New York City, he was a great-grandson of John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne, great-great-grandnephew of William Charles Cole Claiborne and Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne. His descendants include U.S. Senator Claiborne de Borda Pell and Herbert Claiborne Pell IV. He was educated at Pomfret School (Connecticut), Harvard University, and Columbia University, New York City.

Pell's political career began as a member of the Progressive committee of Orange County, New York (1912 to 1914). He was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1919-March 3, 1921) and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1920 to the Sixty-seventh Congress. He was chairman of the Democratic State committee from 1921 to 1926 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1924. Pell was an occasional lecturer at Columbia University, Harvard University, and other institutions of learning, and in 1936 was vice chairman of the Democratic National Campaign Committee.

Pell was appointed from Rhode Island as Minister to Portugal, holding that office from May 27, 1937, until February 11, 1941, when he was appointed Minister to Hungary, serving in that capacity until his resignation on November 30, 1942, after he had received the Hungarian declaration of war. He was United States representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission from August 1943 to January 1945, and in 1961 died in Munich, Germany.

His remains were cremated and the ashes committed off Beavertail (Jamestown, Rhode Island)

[edit] References

Herbert Pell at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Baker, Leonard. Brahmin in Revolt; A Biography of Herbert C. Pell. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1972.
Blayney, Michael S. Diplomat and Humanist: The Diplomatic Career of Herbert Claiborne Pell. Ph.D. dissertation, Washington State University, 1973.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=134584