Henry Richardson Labouisse Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Labouisse
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Executive Director of UNICEF | |
| In office June 1965 – January 1980 |
|
| Secretary General | U Thant Kurt Waldheim |
| Preceded by | Maurice Pate |
| Succeeded by | Jim Grant |
| United States Ambassador to Greece | |
| In office March 7, 1962 – May 8, 1965 |
|
| President | John Kennedy Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Ellis O. Briggs |
| Succeeded by | Phillips Talbot |
| Director of the UNRWA | |
| In office June 1954 – June 1958 |
|
| Secretary General | Dag Hammarskjöld |
| Preceded by | John Blandford Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 11, 1904 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | March 25, 1987 (aged 83) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Elizabeth Scriven Clark (1935–1945) Ève Curie (1954–1987) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize |
Henry Richardson Labouisse Jr. (born February 11, 1904 – died March 25, 1987) was an American diplomat and important leader. He worked to help people around the world. He was the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for many years, from 1965 to 1979. He also led the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from 1954 to 1958.
Labouisse was also an American ambassador. He served as the United States Ambassador to Greece from 1962 to 1965. He played a key role in the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe after World War II. In 1965, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of UNICEF. This made him part of the famous Curie family, as he was married to Ève Curie, daughter of Nobel Prize winners Marie and Pierre Curie.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henry Richardson Labouisse Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 11, 1904. He was the youngest of three sons. His father was Henry Richardson Labouisse Sr. and his mother was Frances D. (Huger) Labouisse.
Henry Labouisse went to Princeton University and earned his bachelor's degree in 1926. He then studied law at Harvard University Law School, graduating in 1929. The next year, he became a lawyer in New York City. He worked at a law firm there until 1941.
Family Connections
Henry Labouisse married Elizabeth Scriven Clark in 1935. They had one daughter named Anne. Elizabeth passed away in 1945.
In 1954, Henry Labouisse married Ève Curie. She was a famous author and journalist. Ève was the daughter of the well-known scientists Pierre Curie and Marie Curie. Marie and Pierre Curie both won the Nobel Prize for their work. This marriage made Henry Labouisse a son-in-law to two Nobel laureates. Later, when UNICEF won the Nobel Peace Prize, he became one of five Nobel Prize winners in the Curie family.
Helping Europe After World War II
When the Second World War began, Henry Labouisse decided to work for the State Department. He started in 1941 and worked on foreign economic policy. This meant he helped decide how the U.S. would deal with other countries' economies.
In 1944, he went to France to help with economic affairs at the American Embassy. After the war, he played a big part in the Marshall Plan. This plan was a huge effort by the United States to provide economic aid to help European countries rebuild after the war. Labouisse traveled to Paris in 1948 to help set up the agency that would manage this aid. He worked on coordinating foreign aid until 1951.
Leading International Aid Efforts
In 1954, Henry Labouisse left the U.S. government to work for the United Nations. He became the director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This agency was created to help Palestinian refugees who had to leave their homes in 1948.
When Labouisse took over, UNRWA was helping almost 900,000 refugees. He worked to improve their living conditions in refugee camps. He also focused on improving health, education, and job training for them. He left UNRWA in 1958.
After UNRWA, he worked as a consultant for the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development. He helped countries like Venezuela plan their economic growth. In 1960, he advised the UN Secretary-General during the Congo Crisis.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed him to lead the International Cooperation Administration (ICA). This agency managed non-military foreign aid programs. After the ICA was reorganized, Labouisse became the United States Ambassador to Greece from 1962 to 1965.
Leading UNICEF
In June 1965, Henry Labouisse was chosen to be the second Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF works to help children around the world. During his time as director, Labouisse led UNICEF's efforts to provide emergency relief during major conflicts and natural disasters. He also worked hard to improve the lives of children in developing countries.
For example, UNICEF provided aid to both sides during the Nigerian civil war in 1968. They also helped children in Cambodia in 1979 after the country was invaded. Under his leadership, UNICEF received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for its work helping children.
Retirement
Henry Labouisse retired from UNICEF in December 1979. However, he continued to work as a consultant for UNICEF's operations in Cambodia and Thailand for most of 1980.
Even after retiring, Labouisse remained active in various organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Board for the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 1980 to 1985. Henry Labouisse passed away on March 25, 1987, at the age of 83.
See also
- List of Directors and Commissioners-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
