Myron T. Herrick

Myron T. Herrick was an American banker, politician, and diplomat who served as the 42nd Governor of Ohio and twice as the United States Ambassador to France. His tenure in Paris spanned the critical periods of World War I and the Roaring Twenties, where he became a legendary figure for his courageous and compassionate leadership during the German advance in 1914. Herrick's deep friendship with France and its people made him one of the most popular and effective American envoys of his era.

Early life and career

Myron Timothy Herrick was born on a farm in Lorain County, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University before reading law in Cleveland. He soon shifted his focus to banking and finance, becoming a prominent figure in Cleveland's financial circles. Herrick helped organize the Society for Savings bank and played a key role in the founding of the American National Bank, establishing close ties with powerful industrialists like Marcus Alonzo Hanna. His success in finance provided the foundation for his entry into Republican Party politics, where he became a trusted advisor and fundraiser.

Governor of Ohio

Elected in 1903, Herrick served a single two-year term as Governor of Ohio from 1904 to 1906, with his lieutenant governor being the future President Warren G. Harding. His administration was marked by progressive reforms, including improvements to the state's penal system and advocacy for child labor laws. However, his support for a controversial local option liquor control law contributed to his defeat for re-election in 1905 by Democrat John M. Pattison. After his term, Herrick returned to his banking interests but remained an influential force within the Ohio Republican Party.

Ambassador to France

In 1912, President William Howard Taft appointed Herrick as United States Ambassador to France. He arrived in Paris and quickly became a beloved social and diplomatic figure, known for his geniality and efforts to strengthen Franco-American relations. His first term was abruptly dominated by the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. When the French government evacuated to Bordeaux ahead of the German Army, Herrick chose to remain in a nearly deserted Paris, a decision that cemented his legacy.

World War I service

Herrick's actions during the opening months of World War I were extraordinary. As the Battle of the Marne raged, he provided critical leadership, overseeing the protection of the abandoned U.S. Embassy and the vital diplomatic archives of multiple nations. He famously took personal responsibility for the safety of the city's artistic treasures, including securing the Louvre. Herrick also assumed protection of the Palais d'Orléans and the interests of Germany and Austria-Hungary after their ambassadors departed, for which he was later decorated by the German Empire. His calm stewardship made him a hero to the French people and he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

Later life and legacy

Herrick returned to the United States in 1914 but was reappointed as United States Ambassador to France by President Warren G. Harding in 1921. He served through the Coolidge administration, overseeing the pivotal postwar era of the Dawes Plan and the Locarno Treaties. Herrick died in office in Paris in 1929 and was given a state funeral at the Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides, an unprecedented honor for a foreign diplomat. His name is memorialized in the Myron T. Herrick Memorial in Cleveland, and he is remembered as the quintessential "American friend of France," whose humanity transcended diplomacy during one of history's gravest crises.

Category:1854 births Category:1929 deaths Category:Governors of Ohio Category:United States ambassadors to France Category:Ohio Republicans