Philip Henry Alston Jr. (April 19, 1911 – March 2, 1988) was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Nauru.[1]

Philip H. Alston
BornApril 19, 1911
Atlanta, Georgia, US
DiedMarch 2, 1988
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Georgia (BA), Emory University (JD)
Occupation(s)Lawyer, diplomat

Biography

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Alston was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 19, 1911 to attorney Philip H. Alston Sr. (1880–1962) and May Lewis Alston (1890–1962). He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia in 1932, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Emory University in 1934. Upon completion of law school, Alston began practicing at the law firm that would become Alston, Miller and Gaines, where he became a partner in 1942.[2]

From 1942–1945, Alston served in the United States Navy, and returned to his legal practice following the end of World War II.[2]

Alston was a confidant of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and began supporting Carter politically in 1966.[3] In 1976, Alston was chairman of Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign committee.[4] Carter appointed him ambassador to Australia and Nauru in 1977 and 1979, respectively. He served in those roles until 1981.[1]

Following his diplomatic appointments, Alston was a co-founder of the Georgia Foundation, raising millions of dollars for the University of Georgia.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Philip Henry Alston Jr. (1911-1988)". U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "United States Ambassador to Australia - Nomination of Philip H. Alston, Jr". The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  3. ^ a b "Philip Alston Jr., 76, A Former Ambassador". New York Times. Associated Press. 5 March 1988. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Alston". Political Graveyard.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
James W. Hargrove
United States Ambassador to Australia
1977–1981
Succeeded by
Preceded by
James W. Hargrove
United States Ambassador to Nauru
1979–1981
Succeeded by