Felix Cole

Career

In 1915, Cole received a job in the United States Department of State. He served as the United States consul in Arkhangelsk, Russian Empire.

In 1920, Cole was assigned as the United States consul in Bucharest, Romania. In 1924, he was assigned as the United States consul in Sydney, Australia. In 1928, he was assigned as the United States consul in Warsaw, Poland. During the 1930s he served as the Charge d'Affaires in Riga, Latvia. In 1944, he was appointed to serve as the first secretary of the United States legation to Liberia and as the consul general in Monrovia, Liberia.

During the 1940s he served as a consul in French Algeria and during his tenure he advised the United States against intervening against the actions of former Vichy officials on behalf of Algeria's 150,000 Jews.

Ambassador

On February 5, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Cole to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia and was later approved by the United States Senate on February 20. On October 5, 1945, he presented his credentials and served until October 8, 1947. George Robert Merrell was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to replace Cole.

On March 29, 1948, President Truman appointed Cole to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ceylon and was later approved by the United States Senate on April 7. Cole was the first person to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ceylon. He presented his credentials on August 3, 1949, and served until October 30, 1949.

Later life

On July 18, 1953, Cole married Jeannette Watrous Berry. He later served as chairman of the American Friends for Russian Freedom.