Theodore Brentano (March 29, 1854 – July 2, 1940) was an American attorney and judge and the first U.S. ambassador to Hungary (his full title was "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary").[1] He was appointed to the position by Warren G. Harding.[2]

Theodore Brentano
Brentano in 1922
United States Ambassador to Hungary
In office
February 10, 1922 – May 6, 1927
PresidentWarren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byJ. Butler Wright
Judge of the Superior Court of Cook County
In office
1890–1921
Personal details
Born(1854-03-29)March 29, 1854
Kalamazoo, Michigan
DiedJuly 2, 1940(1940-07-02) (aged 86)
Larchmont, New York
Resting placeGraceland Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMinnie Claussenius
ParentLorenz Brentano
OccupationAttorney, judge, civil servant

Biography

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Brentano's grave (leftmost) at Graceland Cemetery

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Lorenzo Brentano and his wife Caroline, Theodore Brentano was educated in Chicago, Dresden and Zurich. He studied law at National University Law School (which later became George Washington University Law School). Brentano married Minnie Claussenius on May 17, 1887.[3] He was admitted to the bar in 1882, became an assistant city attorney in 1888, and by 1890 was a judge on the Superior Court of Cook County in Cook County, Illinois and would go on to become the court's chief justice.[4][5] Brentano remained on the bench for thirty-one years.[6]

In 1899 Brentano became the new treasurer and president of the Illinois Staats-Zeitung, the newspaper of which his father was editor during the Civil War, when the majority stockholders appointed a new board of directors and ousted former treasurer Charles Francis Pietsch.[7]

Brentano was appointed as minister to Hungary on February 10, 1922, arrived in Budapest on May 10, presented his credentials on May 16, and served until May 6, 1927.[8][9]

He died at his daughter's home in Larchmont, New York on July 2, 1940, and was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tells of Harding's Hopes for Hungary". The New York Times. April 14, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Washburn". Time. April 14, 1930. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  3. ^ Marquis, Albert Nelson (1911). The Book of Chicagoans: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of Chicago, 1911. A.N. Marquis. pp. 84–85 – via Internet Archive. Theodore Brentano.
  4. ^ Postal, Bernard; Koppman, Lionel (1984). American Jewish Landmarks. Fleet Press. p. 36. ISBN 0-8303-0151-8.
  5. ^ Bellamy, Francis Rufus (March 1, 1922). "On Speaking Terms With the Central Powers". The Outlook. 130: 325. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  6. ^ Findling, John E. (1989). Dictionary of American Diplomatic History. Greenwood Press. p. 80. ISBN 0-313-26024-9.
  7. ^ Fourth Estate: A Weekly Newspaper for Publishers, Advertisers, Advertising Agents and Allied Interests, Issue 281, July 13, 1899.
  8. ^ "Our Minister in Budapest; Hungarian Press Accords Mr. Brentano a Cordial Reception". The New York Times. Budapest (published May 10, 1922). Associated Press. May 9, 1922. p. 24. Retrieved August 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Theodore Brentano". United States Department of State. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  10. ^ "Former Judge Brentano Dies in East at 86". Chicago Tribune. July 3, 1940. p. 23. Retrieved August 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

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  • Peterecz, Zoltán. "Theodore Brentano – The first American minister for Hungary, 1922–1927" Hungarian Studies (December 2021) 35#1 pp. 66–79.
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