William H. G. FitzGerald
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Bill Clinton
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
William H. G. FitzGerald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
| In office June 26, 1992 – June 5, 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Richard A. Moore |
| Succeeded by | Jean Kennedy Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1909 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 2006 (aged 96) Washington, D. C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Annelise Petschek |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
William Henry Gerald FitzGerald (December 23, 1909 – January 5, 2006) was an American investor and philanthropist, who served as United States Ambassador to Ireland from 1992 to 1993.[1][2]
FitzGerald was born in Boston in 1909, and grew up in nearby Wakefield, Massachusetts.[3] After attending the Severn School in Maryland, he entered the United States Naval Academy in 1927 and graduated in 1931.[3] He attended submarine school, and was later assigned to Pearl Harbor; he left the Navy in 1934 to attend Harvard Law School.[3] After some successful investing, FitzGerald decided to leave law school to learn corporate finance; he worked for the Borden Milk Company until being recalled by the Navy in April 1941.[3]
FitzGerald conducted submarine research during World War II, and left the Navy in 1946.[3] Until 1957, he worked in the field of metallurgy, including founding and selling a company. Former governor of Massachusetts Christian Herter then had him appointed to a position within the International Cooperation Administration.[3] In 1960, FitzGerald left the ICA to support the presidential campaign of Richard Nixon.[3] After Nixon lost the 1960 presidential election, FitzGerald returned to private business, and became chairman of a hydrofoil company; during these years he also invested in the stock market.[3] FitzGerald later held positions within the International Center of Investment Disputes (1975–1982), the President's Advisory Board on International Investments (1976–1978), and the Atlantic Council starting in 1976.[3]
After the 1988 election of George H. W. Bush, FitzGerald was appointed vice chairman of the African Development Fund.[3] In 1992, he was appointed ambassador to Ireland by President Bush.[3] His nomination caused some controversy, due to his age (FitzGerald was 80 at the time) and some misstatements he made during his confirmation hearing.[4][5] His nomination was confirmed by the Senate, and he presented his credentials to President of Ireland Mary Robinson on June 26, 1992.[6][7] He had the official title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and served until June 5, 1993.[6]
FitzGerald died at George Washington University Hospital on January 5, 2006, of an aortic aneurysm.[8] The William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington is named in his honor.
