Herman B. Baruch

Herman B. Baruch
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
In office
April 12, 1947 – August 26, 1949
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byStanley Hornbeck
Succeeded bySelden Chapin
United States Ambassador to Portugal
In office
April 12, 1945 – March 9, 1947
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byRaymond Henry Norweb
Succeeded byJohn Cooper Wiley
Personal details
Born
Herman Benjamin Baruch

(1872-04-28)April 28, 1872
Camden, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1953(1953-03-15) (aged 80)
Wyandanch, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Parent(s)Simon Baruch
Isabel Wolfe
Alma materCity College of New York (BA)
Columbia University

Herman Benjamin Baruch (April 28, 1872 – March 15, 1953) was an American physician and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands and Portugal.

Life and career

Newsreels in which Dutch subjects of a certain week are presented. During World War II several persons in Breda offered their help to stranded Allied pilots. One of these pilots has now sent a supply of cigarettes as a thank-you. The American ambassador, Dr. Herman B. Baruch, hands them out. SHOTS: - ext. and int. of the hiding-places of pilots and other rooms that were used by the Dutch resistance; - Dutch military policeman shows the border post where he handed over pilots to the Belgian underground during the war; - the cigarettes are handed out by Baruch in the town hall in the presence of mayor C. A. Prinsen; - one of the pilot helpers, Mrs. Überfeld, receives flowers from Baruch.

Herman Benjamin Baruch was born in Camden, South Carolina on April 28, 1872. The son of Simon Baruch and brother of Bernard Baruch, he graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1892, attended the University of Virginia, and received his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1895.[1][2][3]

Baruch practiced medicine in New York City, and later became a partner with his brothers Bernard, Hartwig and Sailing[4] in Baruch Brothers, an investment bank and stock brokerage.[5] The Baruchs were supporters of the Democratic party, with Bernard advising both Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt during their presidencies, and all the brothers and their company providing financial support to the party and its candidates.[6][7][8]

Baruch was a Delegate to the 1932 Democratic National Convention,[9] and was also a presidential elector, casting his ballot for Franklin D. Roosevelt.[10] In 1943 Baruch was appointed representative of the U.S. Board of Economic Warfare in Brazil and special advisor to the U.S. Ambassador in that country.[11][12]

In 1945 Baruch was appointed United States Ambassador to Portugal.[13] He served until 1947, when he was named United States Ambassador to the Netherlands.[14] Baruch served at The Hague until 1949, when he resigned as part of his brother Bernard's dispute with President Harry S. Truman.[15] On his list of appointments for September 5, 1945 Truman described his 11:15 AM meeting with Herman Baruch: "Flatterer. Wants to be ambassador to France. Conniver like his Brother."[16]

After returning to the United States, Baruch became President of the Simon Baruch Foundation.[17] He was a Delegate to the 1952 Democratic National Convention.[18]

Baruch died in Wyandanch, New York on March 15, 1953.[19]

References

  1. ^ J. T. White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1935, page 170
  2. ^ Alumni Council of Columbia University, Columbia Alumni News, Volume 38, Issue 8, 1947, page 28
  3. ^ Associated Press, Dr. Herman Baruch succumbs at 80, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, March 16, 1953
  4. ^ James L. Grant, Bernard M. Baruch: The Adventures of a Wall Street Legend, 1997, page 4
  5. ^ Edwin C. Hill, Bernard M. Baruch, Munsey's magazine, Volume 61, September, 1917, pages 595 to 601
  6. ^ New York Times, [Expenditures in New York: Flood of Election Statements Filed with the Secretary of State], November 28, 1916
  7. ^ Charleston News and Observer, Baruch Leads Contributors to Democratic Party Chest[permanent dead link‍], November 1, 1932
  8. ^ New York Times, Chief Parties List Gifts for Campaign, October 29, 1944
  9. ^ New York Times, New York's Vote, July 1, 1932
  10. ^ New York Times, Herman B. Baruch, Former U.S. Envoy: Ambassador to Portugal and Netherlands Dies at 80-- Was Brother of Bernard, March 16, 1953
  11. ^ New York Times, Dr. Baruch to Head New Brazil Office, March 9, 1943
  12. ^ Associated Press, Former Envoy Herman Baruch Dies at Home, Eugene Register-Guard, March 16, 1953
  13. ^ New York Times, H. B. Baruch Named Envoy; Chosen Ambassador to Portugal to Succeed R. Henry Norweb, January 30, 1945
  14. ^ Chicago Tribune, Herman Baruch Sworn as Envoy to The Hague, March 20, 1947
  15. ^ United Press International, Herman Baruch Resigns as Envoy, August 19, 1949
  16. ^ Truman, Harry S. (1980). Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman. Harper & Row. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-8262-1119-4.
  17. ^ Mabel Otis Robison, Frank H. Krusen, M.D.: Pioneer in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1963, 103
  18. ^ Paul Theodore David, Presidential Nominating Politics in 1952, Volume 2, 1954, pages 174 to 175
  19. ^ Central Conference of American Rabbis, Yearbook, Volume 63, 1953, page 94
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Portugal
1945–1947 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
1947–1949 		Succeeded by