Edwin Cunningham

Edwin Sheddan Cunningham (July 6, 1868 – January 20, 1953) was an American diplomat who served for many years in China, retiring as United States Consul General in Shanghai.

Early life and education Cunningham was born July 6, 1868, in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee, the son of Major Ben and Jane Ann (Sheddan) Cunningham.

He graduated from Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, and received an LL.B. from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Career Following graduation Cunningham worked in a law publishing house in Rochester, New York and then practiced law in Maryville from 1896 to 1898.

In 1898, Cunningham was appointed consul to Aden, Arabia, and transferred to Bergen, Norway, in 1903. In 1906, he became consul to Durban, South Africa, and from 1910 to 1912, served as consul to Bombay, India. Cunningham also served as United States consul-general to Singapore from 1912 to 1914.

He retired at the end of 1935 at the age of 67 having gone past the normal retirement age of 65 at the special request of the United States Secretary of State, Cordell Hull.

Death Cunningham died at his home in Maryville, Tennessee on 20 January 1953.