John N. Irwin II

John Nichol Irwin II (December 31, 1913 – February 28, 2000) was an American diplomat and attorney during the Cold War.[1][2] During World War II, he served in the Army in the Pacific as a member of General Douglas MacArthur's staff and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1]

John N. Irwin
United States Ambassador to France
In office
March 23, 1973 – October 20, 1974
PresidentRichard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Preceded byArthur K. Watson
Succeeded byKenneth Rush
1st United States Deputy Secretary of State
In office
July 12, 1972 – February 1, 1973
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byKenneth Rush
26th United States Under Secretary of State
In office
September 21, 1970 – July 12, 1972
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byElliot Richardson
Succeeded byHimself (as Deputy Secretary)
5th Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
In office
October 4, 1958 – January 20, 1961
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byMansfield D. Sprague
Succeeded byPaul Nitze
Personal details
Born
John Nichol Irwin II

December 31, 1913
Keokuk, Iowa, U.S.
DiedFebruary 28, 2000(2000-02-28) (aged 86)
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Jane Watson
​
​
(m. 1940; died 1970)​
    Jane Reimers
    ​
    (m. 1976)​
    ChildrenJohn, Jane, Watkins (stepchild), Thomas (stepchild), Carl (stepchild)
    Education
    Profession

    Biography

    He was born on December 31, 1913, in Keokuk, Iowa.[1] After graduating from the Fordham University School of Law, he became an attorney, eventually working as a lawyer at Patterson, Belknap & Webb.[3]

    He was the last person to hold the position of Under Secretary of State when that was the U.S. State Department's second-ranking office (1970-1972). In 1972, he became the first person to hold the office of Deputy Secretary of State, which succeeded the office of Under Secretary; he held that office until February 1, 1973.

    In both capacities, his superior was Secretary William P. Rogers. Irwin resigned from the position of Deputy Secretary to serve as U.S. Ambassador to France.[2]

    In 1973, Irwin bought the Luis Maria Baca Grant No. 5, also known as the O RO Ranch, near Seligman, Arizona, from the Greene Cattle Company.[4][5] In 1977, Irwin bought the Quien Sabe Ranch near Tres Pinos, California.[6]

    He died on February 28, 2000, in New Haven, Connecticut, at the age of 86.[1]

    References
    1. Nick Ravo (February 29, 2000). "John N. Irwin II, 86, Diplomat And Ex-Aide to MacArthur". New York Times.
    2. "John N. Irwin II". Soylent Communications. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
    3. "The arrangement John N. Irwin II has made with his law firm, Patterson, Belknap & Webb, to continue in private law practice to the extent permitted by his duties as Special Representative of the United States for Interoceanic Canal Negotiations". knightcolumbia.org. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
    4. "Greene Cattle Company collection 1836-1970".
    5. "Best of Both Worlds". 26 November 2022.
    6. "Article clipped from the Californian". The Californian. 24 August 1977. p. 16.
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