Edward Elliot Elson

Last updated
Suzanne Wolf Goodman
​
​
(after 1957)​
Edward Elliot Elson
United States Ambassador to Denmark
In office
1993–1998
Education Phillips Academy
Alma mater University of Virginia
Emory University School of Law (JD)

Edward Elliot Elson (born March 8, 1934) is a non-career appointee who was the American ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Denmark from 1993 until 1998. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Elson was born in 1934 in Norfolk, Virginia. His father, Harry Elson, was a book seller and periodical distributor, including The Virginia Spectator. [3]

He attended Phillips Academy, the University of Virginia, and law school at Emory University. [3]

Career

When Elson finished his education, he took over the family business, where he is said to have "pioneered retail outlets in airports and hotels" [4] as well as train stations. [3] He was also a faculty and board member of the University of Virginia and chairman of the Board of the following: Bank of Gordon County; Elsonýs; Atlanta News Agency, Inc.; W.H. Smith Holdings (USA); and, The Majestic Wine Corp. [5]

He is a Charter Trustee of Phillips Academy, director of Hampton Investments, Rector of the University of Virginia, founding Chairman of National Public Radio and Chairman of the Jewish Publication Society. [4]

Diplomatic career

On November 22, 1993, Elson was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Denmark. He presented his credentials on January 18, 1994. [6]

When the Soviet Union fell, the long term power dynamics in the region shifted. Eight countries in Scandinavia and the Baltics formed to create the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) to help the Baltic's transition. As Ambassador, Elson "helped to strengthen the bonds of the Nordic-Baltic region and secure American alliances in the region." [4]

Elson left his post on June 25, 1998. [6]

Personal life

In 1957, Edward was married to Suzanne "Susie" Wolf Goodman, a daughter of Charles Francis Goodman of Memphis, Tennessee. [7] She attended the Lausanne School for Girls in Memphis and the Dana Hall School in Wellesley before attending Randolph-Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. [7] Susie was a member of the board of regents for the University System of Georgia, former chairwoman of the American Craft Council in New York, and served as chair of Palm Beach's Society of the Four Arts. Together, they are the parents of: [8]

The Elsons owned a two-bedroom pied-à-terre on Park Avenue near 58th Street in New York City. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Uganda</span>

Uganda has formal diplomatic relations with many countries, some accredited. Since the colonial era and after independence Uganda has grown to be one of the most important African countries. Uganda has diplomatic relations with many countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Uganda is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations since 1962.

<i>Pied-à-terre</i> Small secondary residence used for work

A pied-à-terre is a small living unit, e.g., apartment or condominium, often located in a large city and not used as an individual's primary residence. The term implies use of the property as a temporary second residence, but not a vacation home, either for part of the year or part of the work week, usually by a reasonably wealthy person. If the owner's primary residence is nearby, the term also implies that the residence allows the owner to use their primary residence as a vacation home.

Edward Richard Dudley was an American lawyer, judge, civil rights activist and the first African-American to hold the rank of Ambassador of the United States, as ambassador to Liberia from 1949 to 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denmark–Poland relations</span> Bilateral relations of Denmark and Poland

Denmark–Poland relations refers to the bilateral relations between Denmark and Poland. Relations between the two countries date back to the Middle Ages, while modern diplomatic relations were established on 8 September 1919. During the 20th century, relations were turbulent but amicable. The two countries moreover maintained a maritime border dispute until 2018 when it was delineated.

Antoine René Charles Mathurin, comte de Laforêt was a senior French diplomat. He was Consul General of France to the United States before the French Revolution. During the First French Empire he was Ambassador in Madrid. He was briefly Minister of Foreign Affairs during the transitional government after the fall of Napoleon in 1814, and in 1815, after second abdication of Napoleon, a plenipotentiary to the Seventh Coalition powers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Atherton</span> American diplomat

Ray Atherton was a career United States diplomat, who served as Ambassador to Greece, Bulgaria, and Denmark. He also served the role of Head of Mission as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary (Canada) (1943–48). Whilst in his last post, his role was reclassified and he became the first United States Ambassador to Canada. As Head of the State Department's Division of European Affairs he received notification from the German Embassy of their declaration of war on December 11, 1941.

Charles Myer Elson is the Edgar S. Woolard Jr. Chair in Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Encompass Health. He has served on the Board of Directors for Circon Corporation, Sunbeam Corporation, Nuevo Energy, AutoZone, Alderwoods Group, and Bob Evans Farms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josiah Marvel Jr.</span> American diplomat (1904–1955)

Josiah Marvel Jr. was an American diplomat who served as chief of the United States' diplomatic mission in Denmark from 1946 to 1949, originally at the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and later as Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. He was appointed by President Harry S. Truman.

Edward Gibson Lanpher was an American Career Foreign Service Officer who served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Zimbabwe (1991–1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlette Dagnon Vignikin</span> Ambassador of Benin

Arlette Claudine Kpèdétin Dagnon Vignikin is an ambassador of Benin. She has represented her country in the nations of Scandinavia and the Baltic.

James F. Mack is an American diplomat who was Chargé d'affaires ad interim in Ecuador from January 1992 until November 1993 and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guyana from September 1997 until April 2000. After he retired from the State Department the OAS, on September 15, 2004, named him Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD).

References

  1. ↑ "Edward Elliot Elson". Office of the Historian. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR EDWARD E. ELSON" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 18 April 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Nelander, John (January 17, 2011). "Ambassador Elson has rich treasure of political tales". Palm Beach Daily News. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Edward Elson: Entrepreneurial Ambassador to Denmark". Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Edward E. Elson". Council of American Ambassadors. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Edward Elliot Elson (1934–)". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute United States Department of State . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Miss Suzanne Wolf Goodman Betrothed To Edward Elson, Virginia Law Student". The New York Times . March 24, 1957. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Stewart, James B.; Hirsch, Lauren (March 16, 2024). "The Billionaire Taking on Disney Just Wants Some Respect. The longtime corporate agitator feels misunderstood. Maybe his fight with Disney could change that". The New York Times . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "WEDDINGS; Aimee F. Kemker, Charles M. Elson". The New York Times . December 19, 1993. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "WEDDINGS; Lisa Orange, Harry Elson". The New York Times . October 4, 1998. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Hall, Trish (May 20, 2001). "Habitats/Park Avenue Near 58th Street; Creating a Pied-à-Terre For the Pied-à-Terre". The New York Times . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.