Robert Peet Skinner (February 24, 1866 – July 1, 1960) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...

, editor, and publisher.

Biography

Skinner was born in

Massillon, Ohio Massillon is a city in Stark County, Ohio, Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately west of Canton, Ohio, Canton, south of Akron, and south of Cleveland. The population was 32,146 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Mass ...

on February 24, 1866 to

August T. Skinner August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo and was originally named '' Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in ...

and Cecelia van Rensselaer. At the age of 19, he became the editor and owner of a local paper called ''The Evening Independent.'' Through his work with the paper he would become acquainted with William McKinley, whom Skinner would support for the presidency. On June 17, 1897, he married Helen Wales. Through his wife's family and his own connections, Skinner would be awarded for his support for President McKinley with a wedding gift, a role in the McKinley administration. McKinley made him the United States Consul in Marseille from 1897 to 1901; starting up his career in foreign service. He would later become the United States Consul General in Marseille from 1901 to 1908; United States Consul General at the

Consulate General of the United States, Hamburg The Consulate General of the United States of America in Hamburg is a diplomatic mission representing the United States of America to the city of Hamburg and the State of Schleswig Holstein in the Federal Republic of Germany. The Government of Ham ...

from 1908 to 1914; United States Consul General at the Embassy of the United States, Berlin in 1914; United States Consul General at the

Embassy of the United States, London The Embassy of the United States of America in London is the diplomatic mission of the United States in the United Kingdom. It is located in Nine Elms and is the largest American embassy in Western Europe and the focal point for events relating ...

from 1914 to 1924. During his time in France, Skinner would become familiar with French colonial governance. He would become particularly interested with the prospect of establishing a trade deal for the United States with Abyssinia. In 1903 President Roosevelt would take interest in Skinner's proposal and order the diplomat to go to Africa. He arrived along with other representatives and a contingent of thirty

U.S. marines The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the Marines, maritime land force military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare, exped ...

in October of that year; they sailed into Djibouti from Naples before traveling to their destination via camel over a twenty-two day trek. Upon arriving they were escorted by 5,000 native troops to their audience with King Menelik. Ultimately the mission would be seen as a success, there would be increased trade between the two countries, due to a negotiated ten year commercial treaty. His mission would also see a growth of American fascination with their new African partner and provided a foothold into the continent for the still growing country. Upon returning to the United States, Skinner would publish an account of this mission in 1906. He was the United States Ambassador to Greece from 1926 to 1932; United States Ambassador to Estonia from 1931 to 1933;

United States Ambassador to Latvia The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Baltic states ( Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) in 1922. One ambassador, resident in Riga, Latvia, was appointed to all three nations. Relations with the three nations were broken a ...

from 1931 to 1933;

United States Ambassador to Lithuania This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania. The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) in 1922. One ambassador, resident in Riga, Latvia, was appointed to al ...

, 1931 to 1933; United States Ambassador to Turkey from 1933 to 1936. He died in Belfast, Maine on July 1, 1960. He was buried in Massillon City Cemetery in

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, Robert Peet 1866 births 1960 deaths People from Massillon, Ohio Journalists from Ohio American male writers Writers from Ohio Ethiopia–United States relations Ambassadors of the United States to Greece Ambassadors of the United States to Turkey Ambassadors of the United States to Estonia Ambassadors of the United States to Latvia Ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania United States Foreign Service personnel 20th-century American diplomats