Kingdon Gould Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingdon Gould Jr.
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| United States Ambassador to the Netherlands | |
| In office October 18, 1973 – September 30, 1976 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | J. William Middendorf |
| Succeeded by | Robert J. McCloskey |
| United States Ambassador to Luxembourg | |
| In office 1969–1972 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | George J. Feldman |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Lewis Farkas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 3, 1924 Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 16, 2018 (aged 94) North Laurel, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Thorne |
| Children | 9, including Kingdon Gould III |
| Parents | Kingdon Gould, Sr. Annunziata Lucci |
| Education | Millbrook School Yale University |
| Occupation | Diplomat, businessman, philanthropist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank |  Second lieutenant |
| Unit | 36th Mechanized Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | 2 Purple Hearts and 2 Silver Stars |
Kingdon Gould Jr. (born January 3, 1924 – died January 16, 2018) was an important American diplomat, businessman, and someone who gave a lot to charity (a philanthropist). He was a member of the Republican party.
President Richard Nixon chose Gould to be the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg. He held this job from 1969 to 1972. Later, in 1973, President Nixon also appointed him as the Ambassador to the Netherlands. He served in this role until 1976.
Kingdon Gould Jr. was part of a well-known family. His great-grandfather was Jay Gould, a famous financier. His family was known for their work in finance, charity, and diplomacy.
Early Life and Education
Kingdon Gould Jr. was the third child of Kingdon Gould, Sr. and Annunziata Lucci. He was their only son. He went to Millbrook School from 1938 to 1942.
After high school, he attended Yale University for two months in 1942. He then joined the United States Army to serve in World War II. He was very brave during the war. He received two Purple Hearts and two Silver Stars for his service.
After returning from England in 1945, he married Mary Bruce Thorne in 1946. They had nine children together. These included four sons: Kingdon Gould III, Frank, Thorne, and Caleb. They also had five daughters: Lydia, Candida, Melissa, Annunziata, and Thalia.
Gould went back to Yale University after the war. He finished his first degree and then studied law. He graduated from law school in 1951. His granddaughter, Georgia Gould, later became a United States Olympic cyclist.
Diplomatic Career
Kingdon Gould Jr. served as an ambassador for the United States. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country.
He was the United States ambassador to Luxembourg. He held this position from May 1969 to October 1972. This was during the time Richard Nixon was president.
Later, he became the ambassador to the Netherlands. He served there from October 1973 to September 1976. This was also under President Nixon, and he continued through most of President Gerald Ford's time in office.
An interesting event happened during his time as Ambassador to the Netherlands. In August 1974, President Nixon gave his resignation speech. At that time, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger was visiting Gould in The Hague. Chief Justice Burger was the head judge of the highest court in the U.S. He was the one who would officially swear in Gerald Ford as the new president.
Later Life and Contributions
For many years, Kingdon Gould Jr. worked in business. He was a partner in a company called PMI Parking Management Inc. This company focused on parking and real estate in Washington D.C.
He was also a trustee for the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs. This group teaches people about international topics. Gould was known for donating money to Republican candidates and organizations.
Besides his business and political interests, he was a generous donor. He gave money to many schools and educational places. He also played a part in creating the Capital Crescent Trail. This is a popular path for walking and biking. He bought a part of the old railroad line in 1989. Then, he sold it to the National Park Service the next year. This helped turn the old railway into the trail.
Kingdon Gould Jr. passed away on January 16, 2018. He died at his home in North Laurel, Maryland, at the age of 94.
Images for kids
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Kingdon Gould Jr. in 1973.
