Background
Rankin, Karl Lott was born on September 4, 1898 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States. Son of Emmet Woollen and Alberta (Lott) Rankin.
attache officer commercial attache Service officer
Rankin, Karl Lott was born on September 4, 1898 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States. Son of Emmet Woollen and Alberta (Lott) Rankin.
Graduate, Mercerburg Academy, 1916. Student, California Institute of Technology, 1919. Student, Federal Polytechnic, Zürich, 1921.
C.E., Princeton, 1922. Doctor of Laws, Bowdoin College. Doctor of Laws, Bates College.
Construction superintendent Near East Relief, Caucasus, 1922-1925. Manager of real estate development company Linden, New Jersey, 1925-1927. Entered United States Government service, 1927.
Assigned as assistant trade commissioner Prague, Czechoslovakia. Commercial attaché, 1929, Athens and Tirana, 1932, Brussels and Luxembourg, 1939. Commercial attaché, consul Belgrade, 1940.
Commercial attaché Cairo, 1941. Interned by Japanese in Manila before reaching Egypt, 1942-1943. Commercial attaché Cairo, 1944.
Counselor of embassy for economic affairs Athens and Belgrade, 1944. Chargé d'affaires a.i., Athens, 1946. Counselor of legation Vienna, 1946-1947.
Counselor of embassy Athens, 1947. Chargé d'affaires a.i., 1947-1948. Appointed career minister, 1948.
Consul general Canton, 1949, Hong Kong and Macau, 1949. Minister and chargé d'affairs Taipei, 1950-1953. Ambassador National Government Chiang Kai-shek, Taiwan, China, 1953-1957, to Yugoslavia, 1958-1961.
Author: China Assignment, 1964.
Honorary trustee American College Greece, Athens. Served on active duty United States Navy, 1918. Lieutenant Commander Reserve 1937.
Member American Society of Civil Engineers (life), American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (honorary president), Phi Kappa Sigma, Dial Lodge (Princeton). Clubs: Cosmos (Washington). Princeton (New York City).
Burnt Store Country, Isles Yacht (Punta Gorda, Florida).
Married Pauline Jordan, October 3, 1925 (deceased). Married Ruth Thompson, March 6, 1978.