William A. Wilson (diplomat)
William Albert Wilson (November 3, 1914 – December 5, 2009) was an American diplomat and businessman from Los Angeles.
William A. Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson with Ronald Reagan in 1984 | |
| 1st United States Ambassador to the Holy See | |
| In office April 9, 1984 – July 18, 1986 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Diplomatic relations established |
| Succeeded by | Frank Shakespeare |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Albert Wilson November 3, 1914 Los Angeles, California |
| Died | December 5, 2009 (aged 95) Carmel, California |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Stanford University (B.S., M.S.) |
Early years
Wilson's father was an engineer in the oil-tool business and his mother a Canadian. During World War II, he served as a captain in the Army Ordnance Corps.
Marriage
Wilson met his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Johnson, at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1936 and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1937 before marrying in 1938. They had two daughters. His wife died in 1996.
Diplomat
A close friend of President Ronald Reagan, Wilson was appointed on 11 February 1981 as the personal representative of the President to the Holy See, when the United States still did not have full diplomatic relations with the Vatican, and in 1984 as the first United States Ambassador to the Holy See with the establishment of official relations.
References
External links
- William A. Wilson Papers Georgetown University Libraries Special Collections
- The Hon. William Wilson 1999 profile from Thomas Aquinas College
- Amb. William A. Wilson, Director profile from Commodore Applied Technologies, Inc.
- Carl Bernstein, The U.S. and The Vatican on Birth Control Time, February 24, 1992
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by (none) |
U. S. Ambassador to the Holy See 1984–1986 |
Succeeded by Frank Shakespeare |
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Authority control  |
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