American Diplomat. He graduated from Harvard University in 1902 and began a career with the State Department, carrying out assignments in Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Germany, and Austria in the years before World War I. After the war Grew served as Secretary to the US delegation during the Paris Peace Conference. In 1920 he was appointed Minister to Denmark, serving until he was named Minister to Switzerland in 1923. Grew served as Undersecretary of State from 1924 to 1927, and was a leader in professionalizing the State Department's career employees by merging the politically appointed diplomatic and consular services into the Foreign Service. In 1927 he was appointed Ambassador to Turkey, where he served until 1932. From 1932 to 1941 Grew was Ambassador to Japan, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor he was detained until the US and Japan exchanged diplomats in July, 1942. In 1942 he was appointed a Special Assistant to Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and in 1944 he was appointed Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs. In 1944 Grew returned to the position of Undersecretary of State, serving until his 1945 retirement and frequently acting as Secretary while Edward Stettinius and James Byrnes took part in post-World War II conferences. In 1945 he was a member of the three person cabinet committee that unsuccessfully searched for ways to cause Japan's surrender short of using the atomic bomb. Grew also authored several books, including "Sport and Travel in the Far East" (1910), "Ten Years in Japan" (1944), and "Turbulent Era" (1952).
American Diplomat. He graduated from Harvard University in 1902 and began a career with the State Department, carrying out assignments in Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Germany, and Austria in the years before World War I. After the war Grew served as Secretary to the US delegation during the Paris Peace Conference. In 1920 he was appointed Minister to Denmark, serving until he was named Minister to Switzerland in 1923. Grew served as Undersecretary of State from 1924 to 1927, and was a leader in professionalizing the State Department's career employees by merging the politically appointed diplomatic and consular services into the Foreign Service. In 1927 he was appointed Ambassador to Turkey, where he served until 1932. From 1932 to 1941 Grew was Ambassador to Japan, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor he was detained until the US and Japan exchanged diplomats in July, 1942. In 1942 he was appointed a Special Assistant to Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and in 1944 he was appointed Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs. In 1944 Grew returned to the position of Undersecretary of State, serving until his 1945 retirement and frequently acting as Secretary while Edward Stettinius and James Byrnes took part in post-World War II conferences. In 1945 he was a member of the three person cabinet committee that unsuccessfully searched for ways to cause Japan's surrender short of using the atomic bomb. Grew also authored several books, including "Sport and Travel in the Far East" (1910), "Ten Years in Japan" (1944), and "Turbulent Era" (1952).
Bio by: Bill McKern
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