Joseph C. Satterthwaite
- November 19, 1990
- 90 years
About Joseph C. Satterthwaite
Joseph C. Satterthwaite, 90, American diplomat.
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Full Biography
|Joseph Charles Satterthwaite (March 14, 1900 – November 19, 1990) was an American career diplomat.
Biography
Early life and positions
Sattherwaite was born in Tecumseh, Michigan on March 14, 1900. His family had first moved to that state in 1831. He attended the University of Michigan, earning a B.A. degree in 1923 and a M.A. degree in 1924. His first job with the US Foreign Service was as a clerk in the Stuttgart consulate in 1926. From there, appointments followed in Guadalajara, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Baghdad, Ankara and Damascus. As part of a State Department special diplomatic mission, Satterthwaite presented a letter from President Harry S. Truman to King Tribhuvan, recognizing Nepal's independence, on April 21, 1947. This task proved difficult, as foreigners could only enter with consent of the Prime Minister, and the group had to travel by rail, road, pack train and sedan chair.
Increasing seniority
Satterthwaite served as United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 1949 to 1952, Head of the U.S. Legation at Tangier from 1953 to 1955, and as United States Ambassador to Burma from April 1955 to April 1957. For a brief period between May 6, 1957, and September 1, 1958, he was Director General of the Foreign Service. He then served as the first Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs between 1958 and 1961. One of his duties in that role was hosting an African Regional Conference from June 9–11, 1959 in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo).
South Africa and later career
Sattherwaite was reappointed as an ambassador, this time to South Africa, from 1961 to 1965. Following the Sharpeville massacre, President John F. Kennedy's administration was taking a renewed look at the country. Satterthwaite later recalled that Kennedy had told him "You can tell the prime minister of South Africa that I'm not sending you out there to point your finger at them, (the South Africans) but that they must realize the problems we have with their racial policy". While in South Africa, Satterthwaite learned of Kennedy's assassination from the Belgian ambassador (who had been listenening to the BBC World Service). This forced him to break off a dinner party he was holding and announce the news, bringing some of the South African guests to tears. His embassy held a Catholic memorial service shortly after.
He spoke highly of his time under the Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations, saying in an interview that he "never had any pressure from the White House that was objectionable in the least. Obviously pressures were brought by Congress sometimes, but that's something else, that's just par for the course, you can expect that; but certainly not from the White House under either Truman or Eisenhower. I think this is true of Kennedy, too".
After South Africa he retired from the Foreign Service, becoming a consultant on foreign affairs.
He died in Washington, D.C., on November 19, 1990, at the age of 90, due to pneumonia.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_C._Satterthwaite
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 14 questions
Questions drawn from Joseph C. Satterthwaite's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which city was Joseph Charles Satterthwaite born?
- A.Ankara
- B.Stuttgart
- C.Baghdad
- D.Tecumsehcorrect
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite was born in Tecumseh, Michigan, on March 14, 1900.
Source: Early life and positions
2.What was the highest level of academic degree Joseph Charles Satterthwaite earned at the University of Michigan?
- A.J.D.
- B.B.A.
- C.M.A.correct
- D.Ph.D.
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite earned a B.A. degree in 1923 and an M.A. degree in 1924 from the University of Michigan.
Source: Early life and positions
3.What was the location of Joseph Charles Satterthwaite's first position with the US Foreign Service?
- A.Buenos Aires
- B.Guadalajara
- C.Stuttgartcorrect
- D.Mexico City
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite's first job with the US Foreign Service was as a clerk in the Stuttgart consulate in 1926.
Source: Early life and positions
4.On what date did Joseph Charles Satterthwaite present a letter from President Harry S. Truman to the King of Nepal?
- A.May 6, 1957
- B.June 9, 1959
- C.March 14, 1900
- D.April 21, 1947correct
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite presented a letter from President Harry S. Truman to King Tribhuvan on April 21, 1947.
Source: Early life and positions
5.Joseph Charles Satterthwaite served as the United States Ambassador to which country from 1949 to 1952?
- A.Sri Lankacorrect
- B.Burma
- C.South Africa
- D.Iraq
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite served as United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 1949 to 1952.
Source: Increasing seniority
6.What position did Joseph Charles Satterthwaite hold between May 6, 1957, and September 1, 1958?
- A.Ambassador to Burma
- B.Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
- C.Director General of the Foreign Servicecorrect
- D.Consultant on foreign affairs
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite was Director General of the Foreign Service between May 6, 1957, and September 1, 1958.
Source: Increasing seniority
7.Joseph Charles Satterthwaite was the first person to hold which of the following positions?
- A.Head of the U.S. Legation at Tangier
- B.Ambassador to South Africa
- C.Director General of the Foreign Service
- D.Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairscorrect
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite served as the first Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs between 1958 and 1961.
Source: Increasing seniority
8.Where was the African Regional Conference hosted by Joseph Charles Satterthwaite held in 1959?
- A.Stuttgart
- B.Lourenco Marquescorrect
- C.Baghdad
- D.Tangier
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite hosted an African Regional Conference from June 9–11, 1959, in Lourenco Marques.
Source: Increasing seniority
9.During which years did Joseph Charles Satterthwaite serve as the United States Ambassador to South Africa?
- A.1955–1957
- B.1949–1952
- C.1958–1961
- D.1961–1965correct
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite was appointed as ambassador to South Africa from 1961 to 1965.
Source: South Africa and later career
10.Who informed Joseph Charles Satterthwaite about the assassination of John F. Kennedy?
- A.The British Ambassador
- B.The South African Prime Minister
- C.A State Department official
- D.The Belgian ambassadorcorrect
While in South Africa, Joseph Charles Satterthwaite learned of Kennedy's assassination from the Belgian ambassador.
Source: South Africa and later career
11.What did Joseph Charles Satterthwaite become after retiring from the Foreign Service?
- A.A university professor
- B.An author
- C.A consultant on foreign affairscorrect
- D.An ambassador to the United Nations
After South Africa, Joseph Charles Satterthwaite retired from the Foreign Service and became a consultant on foreign affairs.
Source: South Africa and later career
12.In which city did Joseph Charles Satterthwaite pass away?
- A.Stuttgart
- B.Tecumseh
- C.Maputo
- D.Washington, D.C.correct
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite died in Washington, D.C., on November 19, 1990.
Source: South Africa and later career
13.What was the cause of Joseph Charles Satterthwaite's death?
- A.Old age
- B.Pneumoniacorrect
- C.Heart failure
- D.Stroke
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite died at the age of 90 due to pneumonia.
Source: South Africa and later career
14.At what age did Joseph Charles Satterthwaite die?
- A.80
- B.90correct
- C.85
- D.95
Joseph Charles Satterthwaite died on November 19, 1990, at the age of 90.
Source: South Africa and later career
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