Bert Fish
This is a portrait of Bert Fish from his legs up, facing forward.
Born(1875-10-08)October 8, 1875
Bedford, Indiana, US
DiedJuly 21, 1943(1943-07-21) (aged 67)
Lisbon, Portugal[1]
OccupationDiplomat
Years active1933-1943
Known forAmbassador to Egypt and First US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal during WWII
Notable workPresented a silver framed picture of President Roosevelt to King Ibn Saud

Bert Fish (October 8, 1875 – July 21, 1943) was an American lawyer, judge, philanthropist, and ambassador.

Early life

Fish originally hailed from Bedford, Indiana,[2] but moved to Volusia County, Florida in 1881. He became the Superintendent of the Volusia County Schools district when he was 25, and went on to study at Stetson Law School and becoming a founding member of Stetson University's Sigma Nu chapter, graduating and being admitted to the Florida bar in 1902.[2] Fish then joined a law partnership in DeLand, and from 1904 to 1910 served as a judge.[3]

Politics and diplomacy

Fish was the finance director of the Democratic National Committee and Franklin Roosevelt's Florida Campaign Manager during the 1932 presidential election and a reputed friend of Senator Claude Pepper.

Ambassador to Egypt

Upon Roosevelt's victory, Fish received the ambassadorship to Egypt, being appointed on September 6, 1933, and presenting his credentials December 2, 1933; because his appointment came while the Senate was in recess, he was subsequently confirmed on January 15, 1934 and recommissioned.[4] As part of Fish's assignment in Egypt he would try to improve relations between Egypt, the United Kingdom and United States. During this time Egypt was a protectorate of the United Kingdom. At an April 12, 1937 international conference in Montreux, Switzerland Fish said Egypt had the right to govern and ability to do so which surprised foreign diplomats. This led to a new treaty being signed on May 8 which gave Egypt the ability to oversee its own laws and taxes without the British intervening. While serving in Egypt, Bert was seen positively because of his comment at the 1937 conference. Apart from his regular duties, he also enjoyed seeing the Egyptian pyramids and looking at "other antiquities" in his government issued Packard Super 8 car.[5]

Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Though still residing in Cairo, Fish was appointed the first U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia on August 7, 1939, presenting his credentials on February 4, 1940.[6] In the next few months he would still have his headquarters in Cairo but did frequently go to Jeddah. In mid-1940 he contacted Florida US Senator Claude Pepper who was on the US House Committee of Foreign Relations about being reassigned to Turkey.[5]

He left both assignments on February 28, 1941.[4][6] That February he took a steamer down the Red Sea to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he gave a silver-framed photograph of Roosevelt to King Ibn Saud and was treated to a banquet by Prince Faisal.[7]

Service in Portugal

Even before terminating these assignments, Fish was appointed as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal on February 11, 1941, and presented credentials on March 26, 1941.[8] While at his new post he became ill, and died just two weeks later on July 21, 1943.[2]

Legacy

The American diplomat and historian George F. Kennan who served under Bert Fish in Lisbon, in his memoirs, describes Fish as a shrewd and amiable diplomat but placid and inactive, spending most of his days in an armchair in his room and seldom appearing at the legation chancery.[9]

Bert Fish was recognized as a "Great Floridian" with a commemorative plaque for significant contributions to the history and culture of Florida. His Great Floridian plaque is located at the Fish Building, 100 North Woodland Boulevard, DeLand.[10][11]

Awards

In 1935 Stetson University bestowed an honorary LL.D. degree on Fish.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "BERT FISH I8 DEAD; U. 8. DIPLOMAT, 6/; Minister 'to Portugal Since 1941 Succumbs in Lisbon After 2 Weeks' Illness SERVED IN EGYPT 8 YEARS Also Our Minister to Saudi ArabiaPracticed Law in Florida 24 Years". The New York Times. 22 July 1943.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bert Fish is Dead; U.S. Diplomat, 67". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1943-07-22.
  3. ↑ "Judge Bert Fish". Volusia County Heritage. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  4. 1 2 "Chiefs of Mission by Country, 1778-2005: Egypt". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  5. 1 2 Johnston, Sidney (1999). "Bert Fish: From Volusia County Courthouse to American Embassy". Florida Historical Quarterly. 78 (4) – via STARS.
  6. 1 2 "Chiefs of Mission by Country, 1778-2005: Saudi Arabia". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  7. ↑ "Fish to Jidda". Time. 1940-02-19. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  8. ↑ "Chiefs of Mission by Country, 1778-2005: Portugal". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  9. ↑ Kennan, George F. (1967), Memoirs: 1925–1950, Boston: Little, Brown and Company, OCLC 484922
  10. ↑ "Ambassador Bert Fish - DeLand, Florida". Florida Memory. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "Great Floridians 2000 Program". Florida Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "Bert Fish Collection". University of Miami Libraries. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Bert Fish, Florida Envoy Dies at His Lisbon Post". St. Petersburg Times. July 22, 1943. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
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