Walter Carrington
Encyclopedia
Walter C. Carrington is an American
diplomat
who served as the United States Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to Senegal
and Nigeria
.
Carrington served as the US Ambassador to Senegal from 1980 to 1981. He was appointed by US President Bill Clinton
in 1993 as the US Ambassador to Nigeria, where he remained until 1997. His ties to Nigeria were deep; he had married into a Nigerian family, and had lived in three Nigerian cities since the late 1960s.
(AB
1952; JD
1955). Upon graduation from Harvard he enlisted in the US Army, where one of his assignments was as an enlisted man with the Judge Advocate General Corps (Germany, 1955–1957). Upon separation from the military he entered a private law practice in Boston, Massachusetts; during that time he also served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the youngest person to serve until that date. He held various positions in the Peace Corps
from 1961 to 1971. While in the Peace Corps, he served as Regional Director for Africa (1969–1971). From 1971-1980, he was Executive Vice President of the African-American Institute.
Carrington served as the US Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal from 1980-1981. In 1981, he was named Director of the Department of International Affairs of Howard University
. He published several articles on Africa. He served as US Ambassador to Nigeria from 1993 to 1997. On 1 September 2004 Carrington was named the Warburg Professor of International Relations at Simmons College
in Boston
.
Carrington is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity. In 1997 he received an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Livingstone College
, North Carolina.
In 1991 Carrington published Africa in the Minds and Deeds of Black American Leaders (with Edwin Dorn). In 2010 he published A Duty to Speak: Refusing to Remain Silent in a Time of Tyranny, a compilation of his speeches supporting democracy and human rights in Nigeria during the Abacha military dictatorship. He has written many Africa-related articles for national magazines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
who served as the United States Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
to Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Carrington served as the US Ambassador to Senegal from 1980 to 1981. He was appointed by US President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 1993 as the US Ambassador to Nigeria, where he remained until 1997. His ties to Nigeria were deep; he had married into a Nigerian family, and had lived in three Nigerian cities since the late 1960s.
Career
Carrington graduated from the Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
(AB
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1952; JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
1955). Upon graduation from Harvard he enlisted in the US Army, where one of his assignments was as an enlisted man with the Judge Advocate General Corps (Germany, 1955–1957). Upon separation from the military he entered a private law practice in Boston, Massachusetts; during that time he also served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the youngest person to serve until that date. He held various positions in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
from 1961 to 1971. While in the Peace Corps, he served as Regional Director for Africa (1969–1971). From 1971-1980, he was Executive Vice President of the African-American Institute.
Carrington served as the US Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal from 1980-1981. In 1981, he was named Director of the Department of International Affairs of Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. He published several articles on Africa. He served as US Ambassador to Nigeria from 1993 to 1997. On 1 September 2004 Carrington was named the Warburg Professor of International Relations at Simmons College
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Carrington is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. In 1997 he received an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Livingstone College
Livingstone College
Livingstone College is a private, historically black, four-year college in Salisbury, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church...
, North Carolina.
In 1991 Carrington published Africa in the Minds and Deeds of Black American Leaders (with Edwin Dorn). In 2010 he published A Duty to Speak: Refusing to Remain Silent in a Time of Tyranny, a compilation of his speeches supporting democracy and human rights in Nigeria during the Abacha military dictatorship. He has written many Africa-related articles for national magazines.