Charles Vopicka

Charles Joseph Vopicka (born Karel Boromejský Josef Vopička; November 3, 1857 – September 4, 1935) was an American diplomat of Czech origin who served as United States Minister to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia.

Early life He was born as Karel Boromejský Josef Vopička on 3 November 1857 at Dolní Hbity house 2, Příbram, Bohemia, Austrian Empire and baptized Catholic the next day. He was one of fourteen children. His father was a farmer and the mayor of their community. appointed Vopicka as United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria. The outbreak of the Great War made his job all the more difficult.

Added to the delicate situation which was created by the daily snapping of diplomatic threads, there was imposed upon him the extra hazardous task of acting as Chairman of the International Commission in Serbia, where he was also representing the German and Austro-Hungarian interests. He was representing British interests in Bulgaria and German and Turkish interests in Romania. Representing nine nations in Bucharest, during the German occupation of that city, his life for four years was one of extraordinary activity and private and public strain. Acting for Germany and Turkey he handed their ultimatum to Romania. Likewise, to him, the task of persuading several hundred thousand Russians to remain in the trenches to fight the Central Powers fell to a bitter end. After the termination of hostilities and the consequent resumption of international amenities, Minister Vopicka conducted parleys for the various powers and has notably assisted in the task of building order out of chaos and destruction. In the spring of 1920, he resigned. Germany later withdrew the charges and Vopicka returned to Bucharest. Together, they were the parents of six daughters, including:

Victoria Vopicka, who married U.S. Representative William H. Stevenson.

Honors and legacy In 1918, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Star of Romania "as a recognition of his devotion to the allied cause and especially to Rumania during these trying times." He also received the Grand Cordon of the White Eagle, First Class, from the Prince Regent of Serbia.