Philip H. Alston

Philip Henry Alston Jr. (April 19, 1911 – March 2, 1988) was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Nauru.

Biography Alston was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 19, 1911 to attorney Philip H. Alston Sr. (1880–1962) and May Lewis Alston (1890–1962).

He was educated at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia in 1932, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Emory University in 1934. Upon completion of law school, Alston began practicing at the law firm that would become Alston, Miller and Gaines, where he became a partner in 1942.

Alston was a confidant of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and began supporting Carter politically in 1966. In 1976, Alston was chairman of Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign committee. Carter appointed him ambassador to Australia and Nauru in 1977 and 1979, respectively. He served in those roles until 1981.

Following his diplomatic appointments, Alston was a co-founder of the Georgia Foundation, raising millions of dollars for the University of Georgia.