Background
Phillips, William was born on May 30, 1878 in Beverly, Massachusetts, United States. Son of John Charles and Anna (Tucker) Phillips.
Phillips, William was born on May 30, 1878 in Beverly, Massachusetts, United States. Son of John Charles and Anna (Tucker) Phillips.
Bachelor of Arts, Harvard, 1900, A.M., 1922. Harvard Law School, 2½ years. Doctor of Laws, Queens College (Canada), 1928, Dalhousie U. (Canada), 1929, and Bates College, 1931.
Secretary to Honorary J. H Choate, ambassador to Great Britain, 1903-1905. 2d secretary American Legation at Peking, 1905-1907. Assistant to 3d assistant secretary of state, on Far Eastern Affairs, 1907-1908.
Chief of Division of Far Eastern Affairs, March 20-December 18, 1908. 3d assistant secretary of state, December 19, 1908-October 1, 1909. 1st secretary American Embassy at London, October 1, 1909-November 1912.
Retired on leave of absence. Regent of the College and secretary of the Corporation of Harvard University, 1912-1914. 3d assistant secretary of state, March 13, 1914-1917, Assistant secretary of state, January 25, 1917-March 1920.
Envoy Extraordinary anu Minister Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands and Luxemburg, March 1920-March 1922. Under secretary of state, 1922-1924, A.E and P. to Belgium, February 1924-February 1927, Envoy Extraordinary anu Minister Plenipotentiary to Canada, 1927-1929, appointed under secretary of State, March 5, 1933. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy, August 4, 1936-December 9, 1941.
Resigned when Italy declared war on United States. Became director Office of Strategic Services, London, July, 1942. Appointed personal representative of President, rank of ambassador, Delhi, India, December, 1942.
Appointed political adviser for United States on General Eisenhower’s staff, London, rank of ambassador, September, 1943. Retired, September, 1944. Special assistant to secretary of State, April-June 1945.
United States delegate to London Naval Conference, 1935. Chairman Executive Committee 2d Pan-American Scientific Congress, 1914-1915. Chairman National Exposition Commission Panama Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco, 1915.
Member President’s Committee for Unemployment, 1931-1932. Appointed member Anglo-American Committee on Palestine, 1946. Chairman France-Siamese Committee on Conciliation, 1947.
Former member of the board of overseers.
Member President’s Committee for Unemployment, 1931-1932. Member Anglo-American Committee on Palestine, 1946. Member American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Hist Society.
Clubs: Somerset, Tavern.
Married Caroline Astor Drayton, February 2, 1910. Children: Beatrice S., William, Drayton, Christopher H., Anne C. Private.