| William Dawson, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Panama | |
| In office July 14, 1939 – April 21, 1941 |
|
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Frank P. Corrigan |
| Succeeded by | Edwin C. Wilson |
| United States Ambassador to Uruguay | |
| In office 12 July 1941 – 6 August 1946 |
|
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Succeeded by | Joseph F. McGurk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 11, 1885 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Died | July 3, 1972 (aged 86) Blue Hill, Maine |
| Resting place | Washington, D.C. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Balloch Bready |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Wiliam Dawson, Jr. (1885-1972) was a career United States diplomat. He was U.S. ambassador to multiple countries, including being the first ambassador to the Organization of American States.
He was born at Saint Paul, Minnesota, on 11 August 1885, the son of William Dawson and Maria Rice. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1906, he attended the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris and soon after entered the United States Foreign Service.
His first posting was to St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1908. He served as vice and deputy consul-general to Barcelona, Spain, and Frankfurt, Germany; and consul at Rosario, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Danzig, Poland; and Munich, Germany.
Dawson was consul-general at large from 1922 to 1924 and served as chief instructor at the Department of State's Foreign Service School from 1925-1928. He married Agnes Balloch Bready on 8 June 1926.
He served in Mexico as consul-general; was U.S. Minister to Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay; and U.S. ambassador to Panama and Uruguay during his long career.
After retiring in 1946 he served as advisor on Latin American affairs to the U.S. delegation during the formation of the United Nations, went to Brazil on a special mission with General George Marshall and became the first U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States.
He died on 3 July 1972 at the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, in Blue Hill, Maine. Following a private funeral service he was buried later at Washington, D.C.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gerhard A. Bading |
United States Minister to Ecuador 9 August 1930–27 February 1935 |
Succeeded by Antonio C. Gonzalez |
| Preceded by Julius G. Lay |
United States Minister to Uruguay 10 February 1938–6 June 1939 |
Succeeded by Edwin C. Wilson |
| Preceded by Frank P. Corrigan |
United States Ambassador to Panama July 14, 1939–April 21, 1941 |
Succeeded by Edwin C. Wilson |
| New title Mission in Montevideo
upgraded to Embassy |
United States Ambassador to Uruguay 12 July 1941–6 August 1946 |
Succeeded by Joseph F. McGurk |