William R. Tyler
Encyclopedia
William R. Tyler was a United States
diplomat
.
in 1910. His father was an American
and his mother was an Italian
, Countess Elisina de Castelvecchio. His mother was the great-great-granddaughter of Louis Bonaparte
, descending from Louis Bonaparte's illegitimate son François de Castelvecchio (1826-1869). Tyler was educated at Balliol College, Oxford
.
After college, Tyler spent five years working as an international banker
in England
and the United States. He then enrolled in Harvard University
, receiving an M.F.A. During World War II
, Tyler worked in the United States Office of War Information
, first in Algeria
, and then as director of the Office of War Information in France
.
After the war, Tyler joined the United States Foreign Service
, becoming a career diplomat. As a Foreign Service Officer
, he was stationed in Paris
, Bonn
, and The Hague
. In 1962, President of the United States
John F. Kennedy
nominated Tyler as Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, and, after Senate confirmation, Tyler held this office from September 2, 1962 until May 18, 1965. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson
named Tyler United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
; Tyler held this post from June 23, 1965 through June 20, 1969.
Tyler left government service in 1969, becoming director of the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, one of the world's foremost research libraries in the field of Byzantine studies
. He retired from this position in 1977.
In retirement, Tyler continued to live in Washington, D.C.
until 2003, when he moved to Vermont
. He was a long-time member of the Cosmos Club
. He died at a nursing facility in Bristol, Vermont
on November 16, 2003, after suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease
. He was 93 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Biography
William R. Tyler was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1910. His father was an American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
and his mother was an Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, Countess Elisina de Castelvecchio. His mother was the great-great-granddaughter of Louis Bonaparte
Louis Bonaparte
Louis Napoléon Bonaparte, Prince Français, Comte de Saint-Leu , King of Holland , was the fifth surviving child and the fourth surviving son of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino...
, descending from Louis Bonaparte's illegitimate son François de Castelvecchio (1826-1869). Tyler was educated at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
After college, Tyler spent five years working as an international banker
Guild of International Bankers
The Guild of International Bankers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London.In 1999 the City of London Corporation extended the possibility of freedom of the City of London beyond UK, Commonwealth of Nations and European Union citizens. This led to the possibility of a company with...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the United States. He then enrolled in Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, receiving an M.F.A. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Tyler worked in the United States Office of War Information
United States Office of War Information
The United States Office of War Information was a U.S. government agency created during World War II to consolidate government information services. It operated from June 1942 until September 1945...
, first in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, and then as director of the Office of War Information 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...
.
After the war, Tyler joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
, becoming a career diplomat. As a Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
, he was stationed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, and The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. In 1962, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
nominated Tyler as Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, and, after Senate confirmation, Tyler held this office from September 2, 1962 until May 18, 1965. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
named Tyler United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
The United States diplomatic mission to the Netherlands consists of the embassy located in The Hague and a consular office located in Amsterdam.In 1782, John Adams was appointed America's first Minister Plenipotentiary to Holland...
; Tyler held this post from June 23, 1965 through June 20, 1969.
Tyler left government service in 1969, becoming director of the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, one of the world's foremost research libraries in the field of Byzantine studies
Byzantine studies
Byzantine studies is an interdisciplinary branch of the humanities that addresses the history, culture, costumes, religion, art, such as literature and music, science, economy, and politics of the Byzantine Empire. The discipline's founder in Germany is considered to be the philologist Hieronymus...
. He retired from this position in 1977.
In retirement, Tyler continued to live 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....
until 2003, when he moved to Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. He was a long-time member of the Cosmos Club
Cosmos Club
The Cosmos Club is a private social club in Washington, D.C., founded by John Wesley Powell in 1878. In addition to Powell, original members included Clarence Edward Dutton, Henry Smith Pritchett, William Harkness, and John Shaw Billings. Among its stated goals is "The advancement of its members in...
. He died at a nursing facility in Bristol, Vermont
Bristol, Vermont
Bristol is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The town was founded June 26, 1762. The population was 3,788 at the 2000 census. Main Street is home to most of the businesses of the town...
on November 16, 2003, after suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. He was 93 years old.