Hugh H. Smythe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugh H. Smythe
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|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Malta | |
| In office December 29, 1967 – August 16, 1969 |
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| President | Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | George Joseph Feldman |
| Succeeded by | John C. Pritzlaff, Jr. |
| United States Ambassador to Syria | |
| In office October 28, 1965 – June 8, 1967 |
|
| President | Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Ridgway Brewster Knight |
| Succeeded by | Thomas James Scotes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hugh Heyne Smythe
August 19, 1913 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 1977 (aged 63) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Mabel Murphy
(m. 1939) |
| Alma mater | Virginia State University Atlanta University Northwestern University |
| Profession | Diplomat, professor, sociologist |
Hugh Heyne Smythe (born August 19, 1913 – died June 22, 1977) was an important American author, sociologist, diplomat, and professor. A sociologist studies how people live together in groups and societies. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations, working to keep peace and good relationships.
Mr. Smythe was an expert in understanding different cultures, especially those in Africa and East Asia. He served as an United States Ambassador to Syria from 1965 to 1967. Later, he became the United States Ambassador to Malta from 1967 to 1969.
A Pioneer in Diplomacy
Hugh H. Smythe made history as the tenth African-American U.S. ambassador. He was also the first African-American ambassador to serve in a Middle Eastern country. This was a very important step for diversity in American diplomacy.
Ambassador to Syria
Mr. Smythe's time as ambassador to Syria was during a very challenging period. This was just before and during the Six-Day War in 1967. This war was a conflict that involved several countries in the Middle East.
During the war, diplomatic ties between the United States and Syria were broken. This meant that the two countries stopped communicating officially. Because of this, Ambassador Smythe had to leave Syria on June 8, 1967.
Before the war, tensions were very high in the region. Mr. Smythe sent a special message, sometimes called the "Smythe Telegram." In this message, he shared his thoughts on how the United States should approach its relationships in the Middle East during this difficult time.
Early Life and Education
Hugh Heyne Smythe was born on August 19, 1913, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up to be a very educated person.
He attended several universities, including Virginia State University. He also studied at Atlanta University and Northwestern University. His studies helped him become an expert in many fields, including sociology and anthropology.
Later Life
After his time as an ambassador, Mr. Smythe continued his work as a professor and author. He passed away on June 22, 1977, in Manhattan, New York. His work helped shape how the U.S. understood and interacted with other cultures around the world.
