William J. Sebald

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William J. Sebald
William J. Sebald.jpg
Sebald in June 1957.
United States Ambassador to Japan
In office
1947–1952
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byJoseph Grew
Succeeded byRobert D. Murphy
United States Ambassador to Burma
In office
April 25, 1952 – July 15, 1954
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byDavid McK. Key
Succeeded byJoseph C. Satterthwaite
United States Ambassador to Australia
In office
March 14, 1957 – October 31, 1961
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Preceded by
Succeeded byWilliam C. Battle
Personal details
Born(1901-11-05)November 5, 1901
Baltimore, Maryland
DiedAugust 10, 1980(1980-08-10) (aged 78)
Naples, Florida
Spouse(s)Edith Frances deBecker
Alma materU.S. Naval Academy
ProfessionLawyer, Diplomat

William Joseph Sebald (November 5, 1901, Baltimore, Maryland – August 10, 1980, Naples, Florida) served as United States Ambassador to Burma from April 1952 to July 1954, and to Australia from 1957 to 1961.

Education and career[]

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1922.[1] Sebald moved to Kobe, Japan in 1925 as part of a officer's language program.[1] Sebald resigned from the Navy in 1930.[2]

In 1933, Sebald earned his juris doctor degree specializing in international law from the University of Maryland.[1][2] He moved back to Japan and practiced law at his father-in-laws firm from 1933-1939.[1][2] Sebald also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Maryland for his study and work in Japanese law in 1949.[2]

He served during World War II with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) back in the United States starting in 1939.[1] Then he was on the staff of Admiral Ernest King. He was a political adviser to General Douglas MacArthur, with ambassador rank.[2]

He was U.S. Ambassador to Burma (1952–1954), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (1954–1956), and Ambassador to Australia (1957–1961).[1][2]

Sebald retired in 1961.[1] He died at age 78 in Naples, Florida of emphysema.[2]

Personal life[]

Sebald met his wife Edith France deBecker in Kobe, Japan.[1] They were married in 1927.[1]

Works[]

  • With MacArthur in Japan: A Personal History of the Occupation, Norton, 1965, ISBN 9780393336764

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "Collection: William Sebald papers | Archival Collections". archives.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Joyce, Maureen (1980-08-20). "William Sebald, 78, Dies". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-01.

External links[]

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Joseph Grew 		U.S. Ambassador to Japan ad interim
1947–1952 		Succeeded by
Robert D. Murphy
Preceded by
David McK. Key 		U.S. Ambassador to Burma
1952–1954 		Succeeded by
Joseph C. Satterthwaite
Preceded by
 U.S. Ambassador to Australia
1957–1961 		Succeeded by
William C. Battle
Retrieved from ""