David K. E. Bruce

David Kirkpatrick Este Bruce ( born February 12, 1898 in Baltimore, Maryland, † December 5, 1977 in Washington DC) was a lawyer and one of the most important diplomats of the United States in the 20th century.

Career

In 1920 he completed his studies at the University of Virginia and later attended the law school at the University of Maryland. From 1924 to 1926 he was as a Democrat to the House of Maryland, from 1939 to 1942 the House of Representatives from Virginia. In 1926 he entered the diplomatic service. During World War II he worked from 1941 to 1945 for the OSS. In 1949 he was the United States Ambassador in Paris, afterwards ( 1952-1953 ) Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Ministry. Between 1957 and 1959 he served as Ambassador to Bonn, from 1961 to 1969 in London from 1973 to 1974 in Beijing and most recently, from 1974 to 1976, with at least 76 years, as ambassador to NATO.

Private life

Bruce was the son of U.S. Senator William Cabell Bruce. In 1926 he married Ailsa Mellon, the daughter of Andrew W. Mellon, one of the wealthiest citizens of America. The two had a daughter, Audrey. His second wife he married in 1945 Evangeline Bell and had with her two sons and a daughter. The grave of Bruce is located on the Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington.

Awards

In 1976, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.