Frederick Ayer Jr.

Frederick Ayer Jr. (December 28, 1915 – January 4, 1974) was an American government official, attorney, and author who worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Mission in Greece, and the United States Air Force.

Early life Ayer was born on December 28, 1915, in Topsfield, Massachusetts, to Frederick Ayer Sr. and Hilda Proctor Rice Ayer. His uncle was General George S. Patton and his grandfather was Frederick Ayer. While an undergraduate, Ayer was a member of Harvard's varsity polo and track and junior varsity football and rifle teams. They had two sons and one daughter. Ayer was later assigned to the Boston and Cincinnati field offices and during World War II was loaned to the United States Army for a special assignment in Europe. He was eventually appointed chief of the FBI Liaison Units in the European Theater of Operations. His appointment was held up by Chairman Millard E. Tydings, after Tydings, who did not believe candidates for office should serve as members of the committee's staff, found out Ayer was running for Attorney General of Massachusetts. Tydings soon withdrew his objection, but Ayer declined the post, stating that he did feel he the "full confidence of the committee" due to the chairman's objections.

Fundraising In 1948, Ayer accepted an unpaid position as vice-chairman of the Boston Children's Hospital's Children's Medical Center Fund. The following year he was named chairman of the fund. At the age of 33 he was believed to be the youngest chairman of a major charitable campaign in Massachusetts history.

Political career Ayer was encouraged to enter politics by his uncle, George S. Patton, who told him that too many qualified people avoided politics because they thought it was a "dirty business". He was active in Leverett Saltonstall's 1936 campaign for Governor of Massachusetts and took two months off from law school to assist Wendell Willkie's presidential campaign. Ayer defeated 4 other candidates, including future Attorney General George Fingold, to win the Republican primary. During the campaign, Ayer criticized Democratic incumbent Francis E. Kelly for his handling of the Brinks robbery while Kelly described Ayer as a "10 month lawyer who has never tried a law case". Ayer lost to Kelly 52% to 47%, but received more votes than any other Republican candidate, including gubernatorial nominee Arthur W. Coolidge. In 1952, Ayer again ran for attorney general, but lost the Republican nomination to George Fingold. Following his defeat, Ayer served as vice president of the Massachusetts Citizens for Eisenhower committee. He eventually recovered and returned to work. After leaving government service in 1960, Ayer practiced law in Washington, D.C., with the firm of Ford, Ayer, Horan, and Lester. He also wrote articles for Massachusetts newspapers, including The Boston Globe on a number of subjects, chiefly European affairs. Ayer died of a heart attack on January 4, 1974, while on vacation in Tucker's Town, Bermuda.