J. Christopher Stevens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. Christopher Stevens
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Official portrait, 2012
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| 10th United States Ambassador to Libya | |
| In office June 7, 2012 – September 11, 2012 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Gene Cretz |
| Succeeded by | Laurence Pope (as Chargé d'affaires) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Christopher Stevens
April 18, 1960 Grass Valley, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2012 (aged 52) Benghazi, Libya |
| Cause of death | Assassinated during 2012 Benghazi attack |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA) University of California, Hastings (JD) National Defense University (MS) |
John Christopher Stevens (born April 18, 1960 – died September 11, 2012) was an American diplomat and lawyer. He worked for the United States government in other countries. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya from May to September 2012.
Stevens was killed when the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked. This happened on September 11, 2012. He was the eighth U.S. Ambassador to die while serving in office.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Stevens was born on April 18, 1960, in Grass Valley, California. He was the oldest of three children. His father was Jan S. Stevens, a lawyer. His mother was Mary J. Stevens.
Stevens grew up in Northern California. He had two younger siblings, Anne and Thomas. His mother was a cellist.
School and College Years
In 1977, Stevens was an exchange student in Spain. He graduated from Piedmont High School in 1978. He then went to the University of California, Berkeley. He earned a degree in history in 1982.
From 1983 to 1985, he was a Peace Corps volunteer. He taught English in Morocco. Later, he earned a law degree from University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1989. In 2010, he received another degree from the National Defense University.
Career as a Diplomat
Before becoming a diplomat, Stevens worked as an international trade lawyer. He joined the United States Foreign Service in 1991. The Foreign Service is a group of people who represent the U.S. government in other countries.
Working Overseas
Stevens had many jobs in different countries. He worked in Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, and Riyadh. In Washington, D.C., he worked on nuclear security and foreign relations.
He served in Libya two times before becoming Ambassador. From 2007 to 2009, he was a Deputy Chief of Mission. This means he was the second-in-command at the U.S. embassy. In 2011, he was a Special Representative during the Libyan revolution. He arrived in Tripoli in May 2012 as the U.S. Ambassador to Libya.
Stevens could speak English, French, and some Arabic.
His Death in Benghazi
On September 11, 2012, the U.S. consulate building in Benghazi was attacked. A fire started against the building's wall. Stevens, another diplomat named Sean Smith, and a security officer were inside.
The security officer managed to escape. Staff found Sean Smith dead. They could not find Stevens before they had to leave the building due to heavy gunfire.
What Happened Next
Local people found Stevens and took him to the Benghazi Medical Centre. He was in cardiac arrest, meaning his heart had stopped. Doctors tried to save him, but he died around 2 a.m. on September 12, 2012.
Doctors said Stevens had no visible injuries. He died from smoke inhalation. This means he breathed in too much smoke, which caused him to stop breathing.
Later reports suggested the attack was planned. Libyan officials blamed a group called Ansar al-Sharia. They also thought it might have been a revenge attack by supporters of the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Rescue Efforts and Other Casualties
The Americans who survived were taken to a safe house. A rescue team came from Tripoli, the capital city. This team included eight former U.S. military members. They were ambushed, and the safe house came under attack.
Two more Americans died during this time. They were Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty. Both were former Navy SEALs working as security contractors.
Stevens is buried in New Elm Ridge Cemetery in Grass Valley, California.
See also
- Arnold Lewis Raphel, another U.S. ambassador who died while serving
- Ambassadors of the United States killed in the line of duty
- List of assassinated American politicians
