# George Robert Merrell

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**George Robert Merrell Jr.** (July 13, 1898 – December 16, 1962) was an American diplomat who served as the [United States Ambassador to Ethiopia](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Ethiopia) and [United States Ambassador to Afghanistan](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Afghanistan). During his diplomatic career he served in [Haiti](/source/Haiti), [China](/source/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%931949)), [India](/source/British_Raj), and [Afghanistan](/source/Kingdom_of_Afghanistan).

## Early life

George Robert Merrell Jr. was born in [St. Louis](/source/St._Louis), [Missouri](/source/Missouri), on July 13, 1898.[1] During [World War I](/source/World_War_I) he served in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army).[2] He graduated from [Soldan High School](/source/Soldan_International_Studies_High_School) and graduated from [Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University) in 1921.[3]

On January 18, 1936, Merrell married Nathalie Bishop Choate, but Choate later filed for divorce in 1939.[4][5] She accused Merrell of cruelty and was given the divorce after an eight minute trial.[6]

## Career

In 1921, Merrell became a diplomat for the United States.[3][7] From March 1924 to October 26, he served as the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to [Haiti](/source/Haiti).[8] In April 1935, Merrell became the First Secretary of the United States Legation in [Peiping](/source/Beijing), [China](/source/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%931949)).[4]

On April 26, 1941, Merrell was appointed to serve as the Consul in [Calcutta](/source/Kolkata), [India](/source/British_Raj).[9] On September 20, he was promoted to consul general and October 25, he was appointed to simultaneously serve as the Consul General in [Kabul](/source/Kabul), [Afghanistan](/source/Kingdom_of_Afghanistan).[10][11] In 1945, Merrell was appointed by President [Franklin D. Roosevelt](/source/Franklin_D._Roosevelt) to serve as the United States [Minister to India](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_India) and was approved by the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) on February 27.[12][13]

On April 15, 1947, President [Harry S. Truman](/source/Harry_S._Truman) appointed Merrell to replace [Felix Cole](/source/Felix_Cole) as the [Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Ethiopia). [Henry F. Grady](/source/Henry_F._Grady) was appointed to succeed Merrell as the United States Ambassador to India.[2] On May 14, the United States Senate approved his nomination and he presented his credentials on January 1, 1948.[14][8] On June 28, 1949, he was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and served until March 17, 1951.[8]

On April 19, 1951, he was appointed to serve as the [United States Ambassador to Afghanistan](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Afghanistan). He presented his credentials on June 28, 1951, and served until May 3, 1952.[8]

## Later life

On December 16, 1962, Merrell died from after suffering a stroke in [London](/source/London), [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom). He was visiting his sister Ruth, who was an assistant to [David K. E. Bruce](/source/David_K._E._Bruce), the [United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_the_United_Kingdom).[15]

## References

1. ["George Robert Merrell Jr."](http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/merrell-merrifield.html). *[The Political Graveyard](/source/The_Political_Graveyard)*. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200815180250/http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/merrell-merrifield.html) August 15, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020.

1. ["George R. Merrill Named Minister To Ethiopia"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349834/the-courier-journal/). *The Courier-Journal*. April 16, 1947. p. 10. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200814223220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57349834/the-courier-journal/) August 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["St. Louis Youth Appointed To U.S. Diplomatic Corps"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393296/st-louis-globe-democrat/). *St. Louis Globe-Democrat*. December 27, 1921. p. 11. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200815181205/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393296/st-louis-globe-democrat/) August 15, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Merrell-Choate"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826222/the-boston-globe/). *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)*. January 18, 1936. p. 13. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822164439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826222/the-boston-globe/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["G.R. Merrell Jr. Sued for Divorce"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826532/st-louis-globe-democrat/). *[St. Louis Globe-Democrat](/source/St._Louis_Globe-Democrat)*. March 3, 1939. p. 5. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822164816/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826532/st-louis-globe-democrat/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Mrs. Merrell Obtains Reno Divorce Friday"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826700/nevada-state-journal/). *[Nevada State Journal](/source/Reno_Gazette-Journal)*. March 4, 1939. p. 6. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822165108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826700/nevada-state-journal/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["George R. Merrell Jr. Dies In London; Ex-Ambassador"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393206/st-louis-post-dispatch/). *[St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch)*. December 17, 1962. p. 28. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200815181014/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57393206/st-louis-post-dispatch/) August 15, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["George Robert Merrell (1898–1962)"](https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/merrell-george-robert). *[United States Department of State](/source/United_States_Department_of_State)*. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822163831/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/merrell-george-robert) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 3, 2020.

1. ["St. Louisan Gets Calcutta Post"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826980/st-louis-post-dispatch/). *[St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch)*. April 27, 1941. p. 19. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822165653/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57826980/st-louis-post-dispatch/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["St. Louisan, Consul General"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827085/st-louis-post-dispatch/). *[St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch)*. September 21, 1941. p. 17. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822165933/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827085/st-louis-post-dispatch/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["St. Louisan Given Post"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827126/st-louis-globe-democrat/). *[St. Louis Globe-Democrat](/source/St._Louis_Globe-Democrat)*. October 26, 1941. p. 16. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822170206/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827126/st-louis-globe-democrat/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["George R. Merrell, Ex-St. Louisan, Nominated as Minister to India"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827574/st-louis-post-dispatch/). *[St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch)*. February 19, 1945. p. 6. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822170908/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827574/st-louis-post-dispatch/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["George R. Merrell Nomination Confirmed"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827709/st-louis-globe-democrat/). *[St. Louis Globe-Democrat](/source/St._Louis_Globe-Democrat)*. February 28, 1945. p. 5. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822170909/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57827709/st-louis-globe-democrat/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Senate Okehs Griffis, Other Truman Choices"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57828432/the-waco-news-tribune/). *[The Waco News Tribune](/source/Waco_Tribune-Herald)*. May 15, 1947. p. 1. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200822172214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57828432/the-waco-news-tribune/) August 22, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["George Merrell, Ex-Envoy, Dies"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57392491/the-akron-beacon-journal/). *The Akron Beacon Journal*. December 17, 1962. p. 9. [Archived](https://archive.today/20200815175657/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57392491/the-akron-beacon-journal/) August 15, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2020. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [George Robert Merrell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Robert_Merrell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Robert_Merrell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.