William J. Sebald

William Joseph Sebald (November 5, 1901 – August 10, 1980) was an American diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Burma from April 1952 to July 1954, and to Australia from 1957 to 1961.

William J. Sebald
Sebald in June 1957.
United States Ambassador to Japan
In office
1947–1952
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byJoseph Grew
Succeeded byRobert D. Murphy
United States Ambassador to Burma
In office
April 25, 1952 – July 15, 1954
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byDavid McK. Key
Succeeded byJoseph C. Satterthwaite
United States Ambassador to Australia
In office
March 14, 1957 – October 31, 1961
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Preceded byDouglas M. Moffat
Succeeded byWilliam C. Battle
Personal details
Born(1901-11-05)November 5, 1901
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 1980(1980-08-10) (aged 78)
Naples, Florida, U.S.
SpouseEdith Frances deBecker
Alma materU.S. Naval Academy
ProfessionLawyer, Diplomat

Education and career

Sebald graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1922.[1] Sebald moved to Kobe, Japan in 1925 as part of an officer's language program.[1] Sebald resigned from the Navy in 1930.[2]

In 1933, Sebald earned his juris doctor degree specializing in international law from the University of Maryland.[1][2] He moved back to Japan and practiced law at his father-in-laws firm from 1933 to 1939.[1][2] Sebald also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Maryland for his study and work in Japanese law in 1949.[2]

Sebald served during World War II with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) back in the United States starting in 1939.[1] Then he was on the staff of Admiral Ernest King. He was a political adviser to General Douglas MacArthur, with ambassador rank.[2]

Sebald was U.S. Ambassador to Burma (1952–1954), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (1954–1956), and Ambassador to Australia (1957–1961).[1][2]

Sebald retired in 1961.[1]

Personal life and death

Sebald met his wife Edith France deBecker in Kobe, Japan.[1] They were married in 1927.[1] He died from emphysema in Naples, Florida, on August 10, 1980, at the age of 78.[2]

Works
  • With MacArthur in Japan: A Personal History of the Occupation, Norton, 1965, ISBN 9780393336764

References
  1. "Collection: William Sebald papers | Archival Collections". archives.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  2. Joyce, Maureen (1980-08-20). "William Sebald, 78, Dies". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
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