Edward J. Hale

Edward Joseph Hale (December 25, 1839 – February 15, 1922) was an American diplomat and journalist. He was the Ambassador to Costa Rica from 1913-1917 and publisher of The Fayetteville Observer from the mid-1860s to 1919.

Biography

Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was youngest son of his parents. His parents were Margaret Walker and Edward Jones Hale, a newspaper editor and owner of the political newspaper The Carolina Observer.

He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving a B.A. and an LL.D. While there, he was a member of the fraternity of Delta Psi ( St. Anthony Hall). He was later appointed to the staff of General James Henry Lane as major.

His diplomatic career began when President Grover Cleveland appointed him as consul for Manchester, England. In 1913 he became ambassador to Costa Rica, under the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. He remained ambassador until 1917, he was recalled after the overthrow of the government of Costa Rica, leading the Wilson administration to refuse to recognize their new government.

In between the two diplomatic appointments, he was the moving force behind the creation of the canal system of the Cape Fear River.