US Diplomat. He attended Vanderbilt University and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1889. He then became a newspaper reporter and editor, working in San Francisco, California, Tacoma and Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. He covered American efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asian countries, and he made such a favorable impression on President Grover Cleveland during an in person interview that in 1894 Cleveland named him United States Ambassador to Siam, where he served until 1898. During the Spanish-American War Barrett acted as a political advisor to Admiral George Dewey. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt named him Ambassador to Argentina, and he became Ambassador to Panama in 1904 and Colombia in 1906. He was commended for his efforts to resolve conflicting United States, Panamanian and Colombian claims during negotiations over creation of the Panama Canal Zone and construction of the waterway. From 1907 to 1920 he was Director General of the Pan-American Union, now known as the Organization of American States. In 1924 he was active in the presidential campaign of Calvin Coolidge. He also authored five books, including 1899's "Admiral Dewey: A Sketch of the Man".
US Diplomat. He attended Vanderbilt University and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1889. He then became a newspaper reporter and editor, working in San Francisco, California, Tacoma and Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. He covered American efforts to improve relations with Southeast Asian countries, and he made such a favorable impression on President Grover Cleveland during an in person interview that in 1894 Cleveland named him United States Ambassador to Siam, where he served until 1898. During the Spanish-American War Barrett acted as a political advisor to Admiral George Dewey. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt named him Ambassador to Argentina, and he became Ambassador to Panama in 1904 and Colombia in 1906. He was commended for his efforts to resolve conflicting United States, Panamanian and Colombian claims during negotiations over creation of the Panama Canal Zone and construction of the waterway. From 1907 to 1920 he was Director General of the Pan-American Union, now known as the Organization of American States. In 1924 he was active in the presidential campaign of Calvin Coolidge. He also authored five books, including 1899's "Admiral Dewey: A Sketch of the Man".
Bio by: Bill McKern
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