Truxtun Beale
Encyclopedia
Truxtun Beale was an American
diplomat.
to Edward Fitzgerald Beale
and Mary Engle Edwards; his siblings were Mary (1852-1925) and Emily (1854-?). He was named for his grand-father Commodore Thomas Truxtun
. In 1874 he graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College, and four years later, after studying law at Columbia University
, was admitted to the bar
. From 1876 to 1877 Beale was secretary to his father the US Ambassador to Austria-Hungary
in Vienna
. Instead of practicing law, he became manager of his father's Tejon Ranch
in California, where he remained for 13 years.
In 1891 he was appointed by President Harrison
United States Minister to Persia
, and a year later, Minister (afterward Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary) to Greece
, Romania
, and Serbia
, making him ambassador to three countries at once. The years 1894-96 he devoted to travel in Siberia
, Central Asia, and Chinese Turkestan. Many articles on international questions were contributed by him to reviews and magazines.
Upon the death of Edward Beale in 1893, Truxtun Beale inherited the Tejon Ranch. By his first wife, Harriet Blaine of Maine
(the daughter of James G. Blaine
), whom he married in 1894, he had a son, Walker Blaine Beale (1896 - September 18, 1918), a Lieutenant
in the United States Army
killed in action in France
in World War I
.
After divorcing Harriet, Truxun returned to California and began a law practice. Upon the 1903 death of his mother, Beale inherited Decatur House
in Washington, D.C.
The same year he married his second wife, Marie Oge of San Rafael, California
(granddaughter of Salmon P. Chase
), in New York City
on April 23. The marriage took place in New York City in order to avoid what a newspaper called “notoriety due to the shooting last year in San Francisco.” The couple initially divided their time between Washington and California, but settled permanently at Decatur House following Beale’s decision in 1912 to sell Tejon Ranch to a syndicate of investors headed by Harry Chandler
and Moses Sherman
.
Truxtun Beale spent his last years assembling his father’s papers for an official biography and writing about foreign affairs. He died in at his country home near Annapolis, Maryland
and is buried in Bruton Parish Churchyard, Williamsburg, Virginia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat.
Biography
Beale was born in San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
to Edward Fitzgerald Beale
Edward Fitzgerald Beale
Edward Fitzgerald "Ned" Beale was a national figure in 19th century America. He was naval officer, military general, explorer, frontiersman, Indian affairs superintendent, California rancher, diplomat, and friend of Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill Cody and Ulysses S. Grant...
and Mary Engle Edwards; his siblings were Mary (1852-1925) and Emily (1854-?). He was named for his grand-father Commodore Thomas Truxtun
Thomas Truxtun
Thomas Truxtun was an American naval officer who rose to the rank of commodore.Born near Hempstead, New York on Long Island, Truxtun had little formal education before joining the crew of the British merchant ship Pitt at the age of twelve...
. In 1874 he graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College, and four years later, after studying law at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
. From 1876 to 1877 Beale was secretary to his father the US Ambassador to Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Instead of practicing law, he became manager of his father's Tejon Ranch
Tejon Ranch
The Tejon Ranch Company , based in Lebec, California, is one of the largest private landowners in California. [The federally-gifted lands still held by the Catellus Corporation, a successor to the Southern Pacific Land Company, are much more extensive.] It was incorporated in 1936 to organise the...
in California, where he remained for 13 years.
In 1891 he was appointed by President Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
United States Minister to Persia
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and a year later, Minister (afterward Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary) to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, making him ambassador to three countries at once. The years 1894-96 he devoted to travel in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Central Asia, and Chinese Turkestan. Many articles on international questions were contributed by him to reviews and magazines.
Upon the death of Edward Beale in 1893, Truxtun Beale inherited the Tejon Ranch. By his first wife, Harriet Blaine of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
(the daughter of James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
), whom he married in 1894, he had a son, Walker Blaine Beale (1896 - September 18, 1918), a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
killed in action in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After divorcing Harriet, Truxun returned to California and began a law practice. Upon the 1903 death of his mother, Beale inherited Decatur House
Decatur House
Decatur House is a historic home in Washington, D.C., named after its first owner and occupant Stephen Decatur. The house is located northwest of Lafayette Square, at the southwest corner of Jackson Place and H Street, near the White House...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The same year he married his second wife, Marie Oge of San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
(granddaughter of Salmon P. Chase
Salmon P. Chase
Salmon Portland Chase was an American politician and jurist who served as U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 23rd Governor of Ohio; as U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Abraham Lincoln; and as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.Chase was one of the most prominent members...
), in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on April 23. The marriage took place in New York City in order to avoid what a newspaper called “notoriety due to the shooting last year in San Francisco.” The couple initially divided their time between Washington and California, but settled permanently at Decatur House following Beale’s decision in 1912 to sell Tejon Ranch to a syndicate of investors headed by Harry Chandler
Harry Chandler
Harry Chandler was an American newspaper publisher and investor who became owner of the largest real estate empire in the U.S.-Biography:...
and Moses Sherman
Moses Sherman
Moses Hazeltine Sherman was a land developer who built the Phoenix Street Railway in Phoenix, Arizona, and later built other lines and owned property in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood, California. He also served on the Los Angeles Water Board.At the junction of his streetcar lines west of...
.
Truxtun Beale spent his last years assembling his father’s papers for an official biography and writing about foreign affairs. He died in at his country home near Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and is buried in Bruton Parish Churchyard, Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
.