Lewis Einstein
Encyclopedia
Lewis David Einstein
Lewis David Einstein (March 15, 1877 in New York City
- December 4, 1967 in Paris
, France
) was an American diplomat and historian.
, and Florence, who married Sir Charles Waldstein. He graduated from Columbia University
in 1898, and earned a master's degree in 1899.
Einstein's diplomatic career began in 1903, when he was appointed as Third Secretary of Legation at Constantinople. The next year, he married Helen Ralli, a noted English beauty a number of years older than he, whose sister was married to the younger son of Francis Stonor, 4th Baron Camoys
. This marriage led to friction between Einstein and his father, who worried that Ralli would damage the younger Einstein's career; Ralli was twice a divorcee, and divorced women could not be received in some European courts.
Einsten advanced from Second Secretary to First Secretary and then Charge d'Affairs during the Young Turk Revolution
of 1908, remaining in Constantinople
despite the hostilities. He served as United States Ambassador to Costa Rica
for one month in 1911, before his wife's ill health in the country's high altitude forced him to leave the post. In 1921, Warren Harding made him United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia
, a position he held until 1930. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
.
Lewis Einstein was disinherited by his father after marrying Ralli, except for a sum of $125,000 . After Einstein's death, newspapers reported that a $1,250,000 share of the elder Einstein's estate, valued in total at approximately $4,000,000, had been set aside for Lewis Einstein in the event that he divorced his wife, and that it passed to his sister Lady Waldstein after he declined to do so. This report was denied by Lady Waldstein, who indicated that the father's only wish regarding Lewis Einstein was to see that he was "taken care of", a means she accomplished by granting him an annual allowance of $20,000. Earlier, Lewis had received nothing from the estate of his mother Caroline Einstein, who instead divided her property among Einstein's sisters and various friends among European nobility.
Einstein also engaged in a longtime correspondence with Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
, and in 1964 their collected letters were published in the volume The Holmes-Einstein Letters : Correspondence of Mr. Justice Holmes and Lewis Einstein 1903-1935, edited by James Bishop Peabody.
Lewis David Einstein (March 15, 1877 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- December 4, 1967 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was an American diplomat and historian.
Biography
The son of wool magnate David L. Einstein, Lewis Einstein had two sisters: Amy, who married Joel Elias SpingarnJoel Elias Spingarn
Joel Elias Spingarn was an American educator, literary critic, and civil rights activist.-Biography:Spingarn was born in New York City to a well-to-do family. He graduated from Columbia College in 1895...
, and Florence, who married Sir Charles Waldstein. He graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1898, and earned a master's degree in 1899.
Einstein's diplomatic career began in 1903, when he was appointed as Third Secretary of Legation at Constantinople. The next year, he married Helen Ralli, a noted English beauty a number of years older than he, whose sister was married to the younger son of Francis Stonor, 4th Baron Camoys
Francis Stonor, 4th Baron Camoys
Francis Robert Stonor, 4th Baron Camoys was the son of the Honorable Francis Stonor, himself the second son of the third Baron.The fourth Baron was Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria in 1886 and again from 1892-1895....
. This marriage led to friction between Einstein and his father, who worried that Ralli would damage the younger Einstein's career; Ralli was twice a divorcee, and divorced women could not be received in some European courts.
Einsten advanced from Second Secretary to First Secretary and then Charge d'Affairs during the Young Turk Revolution
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
of 1908, remaining in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
despite the hostilities. He served as United States Ambassador to Costa Rica
United States Ambassador to Costa Rica
The following is a list of United States Ambassadors, or other Chiefs of Mission, to Costa Rica. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
for one month in 1911, before his wife's ill health in the country's high altitude forced him to leave the post. In 1921, Warren Harding made him United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia
United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia
Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1918 at the end of World War I, the Czechs, Moravians, and Slovaks united to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia...
, a position he held until 1930. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
Lewis Einstein was disinherited by his father after marrying Ralli, except for a sum of $125,000 . After Einstein's death, newspapers reported that a $1,250,000 share of the elder Einstein's estate, valued in total at approximately $4,000,000, had been set aside for Lewis Einstein in the event that he divorced his wife, and that it passed to his sister Lady Waldstein after he declined to do so. This report was denied by Lady Waldstein, who indicated that the father's only wish regarding Lewis Einstein was to see that he was "taken care of", a means she accomplished by granting him an annual allowance of $20,000. Earlier, Lewis had received nothing from the estate of his mother Caroline Einstein, who instead divided her property among Einstein's sisters and various friends among European nobility.
Authorship
Einstein wrote the following books:- Inside Constantinople : A Diplomatist's Diary during the Dardanelles Expedition, April-September, 1915 (1918)
- Roosevelt : His Mind in Action (1930)
- Divided Loyalties : Americans in England during the War of Independence (1933)
- A Diplomat Looks Back (1968)
Einstein also engaged in a longtime correspondence with Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932...
, and in 1964 their collected letters were published in the volume The Holmes-Einstein Letters : Correspondence of Mr. Justice Holmes and Lewis Einstein 1903-1935, edited by James Bishop Peabody.