James Mark Sullivan
OfficeUnited States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
PresidentWoodrow Wilson
Term startSeptember 23, 1913
Term endJune 20, 1915
PredecessorWilliam W. Russell
SuccessorWilliam W. Russell
Birth dateJanuary 6, 1873
Death dateAugust 15, 1935 (aged 62)
Death placeSt. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.

James Mark Sullivan (January 6, 1873 – August 15, 1935)[1] was a lawyer and the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Santo Domingo under Woodrow Wilson. He was arrested in Dublin in 1916 for aiding the Irish rebellion.[2][3]

Biography

He was born in County Kerry, Ireland, on January 6, 1873. He emigrated to the United States with his family when he was a boy, and he became a lawyer and prize fight promoter there.[4][5] He married Ellen O'Mara in 1910.[6]

In March 1916, along with his wife,[7][6] he and Henry M. Fitzgibbon founded the Film Company of Ireland.[4] In 1919 his son caught typhoid and Ellen caught the disease and died. The film company ended the following year once the three films in production had been completed.[7]

He served during turbulent times in the history of the Dominican Republic and was recalled to Washington at least once because "his services have not been wholly satisfactory".[8] He was appointed August 12, 1913, and left the post on June 20, 1915.[1]

Sullivan was mistakenly reported as dead in August 1920 by several American newspapers, including the Hartford Courant, which published his obituary on the front page of its August 24 issue and eulogized him as "the diplomat of the tropics" and the man "who originated shirtsleeve statesmanship" for his work as the U.S. minister to the Dominican Republic.[9] Three days later, the Courant printed a correction and informed people that "The report this week originated in the 'New Haven Journal-Courier.'" [10] Fifteen years to the month later, the Courant gave the report of his actual death and eulogized him as being "recalled throughout Connecticut tonight as one of the most colorful figures ever a part of the state's history."[11]

He was a friend of Michael Collins.[12] He died in St. Petersburg, Florida, on August 15, 1935.[2]

References

  1. ^ "James Mark Sullivan (1873-1935)". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2009-08-22. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary (Dominican Republic). Appointed: August 12, 1913. Presentation of Credentials: September 23, 1913. Termination of Mission: Left post June 20, 1915.
  2. ^ "James Sullivan, Ex-diplomat, Dead. New York Lawyer Served Two Years as Minister to Santo Domingo Under Wilson.". New York Times. August 17, 1935. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  3. ^ Sedgwick, Hubert M (August 18, 1935). "Sullivan Had Rapid Rise To Success". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  4. ^ Rockett, Kevin; Gibbons, Luke; Hill, John (2014-01-21). Cinema and Ireland. Routledge. ISBN 9781317928577.
  5. ^ Woodrow Wilson And The Progressive Era 1910-1917 by Arthur S. Link p.97
  6. ^ Johnson, Veronica (2 March 2021). "The Limerickwoman who was one of Ireland's film pioneers". RTE Brainstorm. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Ellen O'Mara Sullivan – Women Film Pioneers Project". wfpp.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  8. ^ "Santo Domingo and Hayti". The Independent. Jul 13, 1914. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Sullivan, 'Diplomat of Tropics," Is Dead", Hartford Courant, August 24, 1920, p1
  10. ^ "Report J. M. Sullivan Still Alive in Ireland", Hartford Courant, August 24, 1920, p4
  11. ^ "James M. Sullivan Dies in Florida", Hartford Courant, August 17, 1935, p1
  12. ^ Rockett, Kevin; Gibbons, Luke; Hill, John (2014-01-21). Cinema and Ireland. Routledge. ISBN 9781317928577.