Joseph Grew
Joseph Clark Grew (May 27, 1880 – May 25, 1965) was an American career diplomat and Foreign Service officer. He is best known as the ambassador to Japan from 1932 to 1941 and as a high official in the State Department in Washington from 1944 to 1945. He opposed American hardliners, sought to avoid war, and helped to ensure the soft Japanese surrender in 1945 that enabled a peaceful American occupation of Japan after the war.
Joseph Grew | |
|---|---|
| 5th and 13th United States Under Secretary of State | |
| In office December 20, 1944 – August 15, 1945 | |
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Edward Stettinius Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Dean Acheson |
| In office April 16, 1924 – June 30, 1927 | |
| President | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | William Phillips |
| Succeeded by | Robert E. Olds |
| United States Secretary of State | |
Ad interim | |
| In office June 28, 1945 – July 3, 1945 | |
| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Edward Stettinius Jr. |
| Succeeded by | James F. Byrnes |
| 13th United States Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office June 14, 1932 – December 8, 1941 | |
| President | Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | W. Cameron Forbes |
| Succeeded by | William J. Sebald (ad interim) |
| 6th United States Ambassador to Turkey | |
| In office October 12, 1927 – March 13, 1932 | |
| President | Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover |
| Preceded by | Abram I. Elkus (Ottoman Empire) |
| Succeeded by | Charles H. Sherrill |
| 26th United States Ambassador to Switzerland | |
| In office September 24, 1921 – March 22, 1924 | |
| President | Warren G. Harding Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Hampson Gary |
| Succeeded by | Hugh S. Gibson |
| 32nd United States Ambassador to Denmark | |
| In office April 7, 1920 – October 14, 1921 | |
| President | Woodrow Wilson Warren G. Harding |
| Preceded by | Norman Hapgood |
| Succeeded by | John Dyneley Prince |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Clark Grew May 27, 1880 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 25, 1965 (aged 84) |
| Spouse | Alice (Perry) Grew |
| Children | Lilla Cabot Grew |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
After numerous minor diplomatic appointments, Grew was the Ambassador to Denmark (1920–1921) and Ambassador to Switzerland (1921–1924). In 1924, Grew became the Under Secretary of State and oversaw the establishment of the US Foreign Service. Grew then became Ambassador to Turkey (1927–1932). As Ambassador to Japan (1932–1941), he opposed American hardliners and recommended negotiation with Tokyo to avoid war until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941). He was interned until American and Japanese diplomats were formally exchanged in 1942.
On return to Washington, DC, he became the second official in the State Department as Under Secretary and sometimes served as acting Secretary of State. He successfully promoted a soft peace with Japan that would allow Emperor Hirohito to maintain his status, which facilitated the Emperor's decision to surrender in 1945.