Richard Teller Crane II
Crane circa 1919
U.S. Minister to Czechoslovakia
In office
June 11, 1919 – December 5, 1921
PresidentWoodrow Wilson
Preceded byOffice Established
Succeeded byLewis Einstein
Personal details
Born(1882-08-12)August 12, 1882
Denver, Colorado
DiedOctober 3, 1938(1938-10-03) (aged 56)
Westover Plantation, Charles City County, Virginia
Spouse
Ellen Douglas Bruce
​
(m. 1909)​

Richard Teller Crane II (August 12, 1882 - October 3, 1938) was the first United States diplomat accredited to Czechoslovakia with the title Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. He received a recess appointment from President Woodrow Wilson on April 23, 1919, and was subsequently confirmed by the United States Senate on June 26, 1919. Crane presented his credentials to the Czechoslovak government on June 11, 1919, and remained in office until December 5, 1921.[1]

Biography

He was born on August 12, 1882, in Denver, Colorado, to Charles Richard Crane, a diplomat and supporter of President Wilson. He was the grandson of Richard Teller Crane I, a Chicago manufacturer.[2] He married Ellen Douglas Bruce in 1909 and they made their home at the Westover plantation in Charles City County, Virginia.[3]

He died by suicide on October 3, 1938, after firing his shotgun to his temple at his estate, Westover Plantation. The initial news reports indicated it was a "hunting accident".[4] He was buried in the Westover estate burial grounds.

References

  1. ^ "Former Ambassadors". United States Embrassy, Prague, Czech Republic. United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  2. ^ North, Michael J. (1990-07-19). "Richard T. Crane Papers, Part II". Special Collections Department. Georgetown University. Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  3. ^ "Westover". A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary-James River Plantations. United States National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-06-10. Westover was acquired in 1921 by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crane.
  4. ^ "Richard Crane, Former Diplomat, Is Killed In Hunting Accident on Virginia Estate". New York Times. October 4, 1938.
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