Robert Douglas Coe

Robert Douglas Coe (February 27, 1902 – May 26, 1985) was a career diplomat and the U.S. ambassador to Denmark from 1953 to 1957.

Robert Douglas Coe
United States Ambassador to Denmark
In office September 25, 1953 – June 1, 1957
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Eugenie Anderson
Succeeded by	Val Peterson
Personal details
Born	(1902-02-27)February 27, 1902
Died	May 26, 1985(1985-05-26) (aged 83)
Parents	William Robertson Coe Mai Huttleston Rogers Coe
Education	St. Paul's School
Alma mater	Harvard University Magdalen College, Oxford

Early life

Coe was born on February 27, 1902. He was the second son of William Robertson Coe and Mai Huttleston Rogers Coe. His siblings included banker and railroad executive William Rogers Coe, philanthropist Henry Huttleston Rogers Coe, and Natalie Mai Coe who became the Countess Vitetti after she married Commendatore Leonardo Vitetti, the Italian Ambassador to France.[1]

He attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He later he received an A.B. in fine arts from Harvard University, and completed an M.A. at Magdalen College, Oxford, England.[2]

Career

Although his father hoped young Robert would pursue a career in law or banking, he instead intended to become an architect, and took drawing lessons from Robert Chanler and Everett Shinn. His father William Robertson Coe was not fond of the idea of his son becoming an architect, and, ultimately, Bob became a career diplomat.[2]

Bob was posted to Brazil, Turkey, India, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, before serving as U.S. ambassador to Denmark from 1953 to 1957.[3]

Diplomatic Service

Porto Alegre, Brazil	1928–1930
Peru	1930–1931
Turkey	1931–1935
Calcutta, India	1935–1937
Washington, DC: The Balkans Desk	1937–1941
London	1941–1948
Holland	1948–1950
Washington, D.C.	1950–1952
Retired	1952
Recalled by President Eisenhower	1953
Ambassador to Denmark	1953–1957

Personal life

As a board member of the Planting Fields Foundation and Chairman of the Board between 1971 and 1985, he helped spark interest in the early restoration work at Coe Hall, particularly the Breakfast Room ("Buffalo Room") murals and the conservation of paintings and stained glass.[2]

Robert painted as a hobby, and never married. Coe died on May 26, 1985.[2]

References

1. "Miss Natalie Coe Long Island Bride", The New York Times, 20 May 1934
2. "Robert Coe Dies at 83; Former U.S. Diplomat". The New York Times. 2 June 1985. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
3. "Denmark". 2001-2009.state.gov. Bureau of Public Affairs Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information. Retrieved 19 June 2019.

External links

• Robert Douglas Coe at Find a Grave
• Robert Douglas Coe at the Planting Fields
• Orlando Sentinel Obituary
• The Political Graveyard: Robert Douglas Coe

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Eugenie Anderson	U.S. Ambassador to Denmark 1953–1957	Succeeded by Val Peterson