Walter Howe

For his grandfather, the lawyer and New York State Assemblyman, see Walter Howe (New York).

Walter Howe
United States Ambassador to Chile
In office 1958–1961
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Cecil B. Lyon
Succeeded by	Robert F. Woodward
Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1939–1940
Preceded by	J. Mortimer Bell
Succeeded by	Hugh Meade Alcorn Jr.
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1934–1942
Personal details
Born	(1907-06-10)June 10, 1907 Washington, D.C.
Died	April 8, 1966(1966-04-08) (aged 58) University of Virginia Hospital, Barboursville, Virginia
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Jane Wild ​ (m. 1936)​
Relations	Walter Howe (grandfather)
Children	4
Alma mater	Yale University Harvard University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	U.S. Navy
Rank	Commander
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Walter Howe (June 10, 1907 – April 8, 1966) was an American diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Chile from 1958 to 1961.

Early life

Howe was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Anne (née Wilson) Howe (1880–1963) and Ernest Howe (1875–1932), a former state assemblyman and senator from Litchfield. At the time of his death, he was editor of the American Journal of Science, and president of the First National Bank of Litchfield (the oldest nationally chartered bank in the state of Connecticut). His mother was the first Republican state central committeewoman from the 30th Senatorial District after passage of the Women's Suffrage Amendment. His sister, Margaret Bruce Howe, was the founder of the Prospect Press in Hartford and was the wife of Herbert L. Crapo, editor of the Litchfield Enquirer.

His maternal grandparents were Annie (née Hutton) Wilson and Nathaniel Wilson, a prominent Washington attorney. His paternal grandparents were Mary Anne Bruce (née Robins) and Walter Howe, an attorney and member of the New York State Legislature.

A graduate of St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, he attended Yale University, where he graduated in 1929, and later did graduate work in history at Harvard University.

Career

Howe was a Republican member of the Connecticut General Assembly from 1934 to 1942 representing Litchfield. He also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1939 to 1940 and director of the United States Foreign Operations Mission to Columbia. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War, retiring with the rank of Commander.

In 1954, Howe was assigned to be chief of the United States Technical assistance program in Columbia, serving in that role until 1956.

After leaving his post in Chile, he was an adviser on South American affairs.

Personal life

In November 1936, Howe was married to Smith College graduate Mary Jane Wild (1913–2006), a daughter of Mary (née Chamey) Wild and Alfred Wild, who was an investor in Colorado mines for many years. Together, they were the parents of four sons, Jonathan Howe, Peter Massie Howe, Walter Robin Howe, and Timothy Brigham Howe.

He died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Barboursville, Virginia, aged 58, after suffering a heart attack. After a funeral service at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Litchfield, he was buried at East Cemetery there.

External links

• Walter Howe at Find a Grave