Messersmith, George S.

Messersmith, George S. (Strausser)

(1883–1960) diplomat; born in Fleetwood, Pa. Due to his personal reticence, his early family life remains obscure. He taught in the Delaware public schools and entered the Foreign Service in 1914. After a series of consular appointments, he was ambassador to Cuba (1940–42), Mexico (1942–46), and Argentina (1946–47); in this last post he worked closely with President Juan Perón and he resigned as a result of his opposition to the State Department's position on Argentina's role in World War II. He ran the Canadian-owned Mexican Power and Light Company (1947–55).