Bert Fish
Encyclopedia
Bert Fish was an American
judge, real-estate operator, finance director, philanthropist, and ambassador.
, Indiana
, but moved to Volusia County
, Florida
in 1881. He became the Superintendent of the Volusia County Schools
district when he was 25, and went on to study at Stetson Law School, graduating and being admitted to the Florida bar in 1902. Fish then joined a law partnership in DeLand
, and from 1904 to 1910 served as a judge.
and Franklin Roosevelts' Florida Campaign Manager during the 1932 presidential election
.
Upon Roosevelt's victory, Fish received the ambassadorship to Egypt
, being appointed on September 6, 1933, and presenting his credentials December 2, 1933; because his appointment came while the Senate
was in recess, he was subsequently confirmed on January 15, 1934 and recommissioned.
Though still residing in Cairo
, Fish was appointed the first U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia on August 7, 1939, presenting his credentials on February 4, 1940. He left both assignments on February 28, 1941. That February he took a steamer down the Red Sea
to Jidda, Saudi Arabia
, where he gave a silver-framed photograph of Roosevelt to King Ibn Saud
and was treated to a banquet by Prince Faisal
.
Even before terminating these assignments, Fish was appointed ambassador to Portugal
on February 11, 1941, and presented credentials on March 26, 1941. While at his new post he became ill, and died just two weeks later on July 21, 1943.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge, real-estate operator, finance director, philanthropist, and ambassador.
Early life
Fish originally hailed from BedfordBedford, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,768 people, 6,054 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.1 people per square mile . There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 556.2 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, but moved to Volusia County
Volusia County, Florida
Volusia County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 official county's population was 494,593 . Its county seat is DeLand, and its most populous city is currently Deltona....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1881. He became the Superintendent of the Volusia County Schools
Volusia County Schools
Volusia County Schools is the public school district for Volusia County, Florida. The district serves the 16 cities of Daytona Beach, DeBary, Deland, DeLeon Springs, Deltona, Edgewater, Enterprise, Holly Hill, Lake Helen, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Whorange City, Ormond Beach, Osteen, Pierson, and...
district when he was 25, and went on to study at Stetson Law School, graduating and being admitted to the Florida bar in 1902. Fish then joined a law partnership in DeLand
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 24,375. It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 436,575 in 2006...
, and from 1904 to 1910 served as a judge.
Politics and diplomacy
Fish was the finance director of the Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and Franklin Roosevelts' Florida Campaign Manager during the 1932 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1932
The United States presidential election of 1932 took place as the effects of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, the Revenue Act of 1932, and the Great Depression were being felt intensely across the country. President Herbert Hoover's popularity was falling as...
.
Upon Roosevelt's victory, Fish received the ambassadorship to Egypt
United States Ambassador to Egypt
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Egypt.The United States first established diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1848, when President James K. Polk appointed Daniel Smith McCauley as the first envoy to Egypt with the title Consul General...
, being appointed on September 6, 1933, and presenting his credentials December 2, 1933; because his appointment came while the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
was in recess, he was subsequently confirmed on January 15, 1934 and recommissioned.
Though still residing in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Fish was appointed the first U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia on August 7, 1939, presenting his credentials on February 4, 1940. He left both assignments on February 28, 1941. That February he took a steamer down the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
to Jidda, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, where he gave a silver-framed photograph of Roosevelt to King Ibn Saud
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
and was treated to a banquet by Prince Faisal
Faisal of Saudi Arabia
Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was King of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. As king, he is credited with rescuing the country's finances and implementing a policy of modernization and reform, while his main foreign policy themes were pan-Islamic Nationalism, anti-Communism, and pro-Palestinian...
.
Even before terminating these assignments, Fish was appointed ambassador to Portugal
United States Ambassador to Portugal
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Portugal.Bilateral diplomatic relations between the United States and Portugal date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was the first neutral country to recognize the United States. On February...
on February 11, 1941, and presented credentials on March 26, 1941. While at his new post he became ill, and died just two weeks later on July 21, 1943.
External links
- Bert Fish Medical Center
- 1940 photograph of Bert Fish in Egypt from LIFELife (magazine)Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....