Richard B. Wigglesworth

Richard Bowditch Wigglesworth
6th United States Ambassador to Canada
In office
December 15, 1958 – October 19, 1960
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byLivingston T. Merchant
Succeeded byLivingston T. Merchant
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts
In office
November 6, 1928 – November 13, 1958
Preceded byLouis A. Frothingham
Succeeded byJames A. Burke
Constituency14th district (1928–33)
13th district (1933–58)
Personal details
BornApril 25, 1891
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedOctober 22, 1960(1960-10-22) (aged 69)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Alma mater
Harvard University
Harvard Law School
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceU.S. Army
Years of service1917–1919
RankCaptain
UnitSeventy-sixth Division
CommandsFirst Battalion, Three Hundred and Third Field Artillery, Seventy-sixth Division
Battles/warsWorld War I

Richard Bowditch "Dick" Wigglesworth (April 25, 1891 – October 22, 1960) was an American football player and coach and United States Representative from Massachusetts. He was born in Boston. He graduated from Milton Academy in 1908.

He attended Harvard University, where he was the starting quarterback for the Harvard Crimson football team from 1909 to 1911.

Wigglesworth graduated from Harvard in 1912, and from Harvard Law School in 1916. He also served as a graduate coach of the Harvard football team starting in 1912.[1] He was assistant private secretary to the Governor General of the Philippine Islands. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Boston.

During World War I he served overseas as captain, Battery E, and as commanding officer, First Battalion, Three Hundred and Third Field Artillery, Seventy-sixth Division, 1917–1919. He served as legal adviser to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in charge of foreign loans and railway payments, and secretary of the World War Debt Commission 1922–1924. He was assistant to the Agent General for Reparation Payments, Berlin, Germany 1924–1927. He was general counsel and Paris representative for organizations created under the Dawes plan in 1927 and 1928.

Wigglesworth was elected as a Republican to the Seventieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Louis A. Frothingham. He was reelected to the Seventy-first and to the fourteen succeeding Congresses and served from November 6, 1928, until his resignation November 13, 1958. Wigglesworth voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[2] He served as United States Ambassador to Canada from December 15, 1958, until his death in Boston on October 22, 1960.[3] His interment was in Arlington National Cemetery.

Wigglesworth married Florence Joyes Booth in 1931, and they had three daughters, Ann, Mary and Jane.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Harvard Graduate Coaches Crimson". The Fort Wayne Daily News. November 2, 1912.
  2. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  3. ^ "Richard B. Wigglesworth Dead; Ambassador to Canada Was 69; Served Massachusetts for 16 Consecutive Terms In House -- Named Envoy in '58". The New York Times. October 23, 1960.
  4. ^ "Ambassador to Canada Dies". The Greeley Daily Tribune. October 22, 1960.
  5. ^ "Richard B. Wigglesworth: U.S. Ambassador to Canada Dies At Boston". Ottawa Citizen. October 24, 1960.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 14th congressional district
November 6, 1928 – March 3, 1933 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 13th congressional district
March 4, 1933 – November 13, 1958 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Canada
January 28, 1959 – October 22, 1960 		Succeeded by