Robert Emmett Jeffery Jr. (January 30, 1875 – May 19, 1935) was an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to Uruguay from 1915 to 1921.

Robert Emmett Jeffery
Jeffery in 1915
United States Ambassador to Uruguay
In office
June 4, 1915 – March 9, 1921
PresidentWoodrow Wilson
Preceded byNicolai A. Grevstad
Succeeded byHoffman Philip
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
1900–1902
Personal details
BornJanuary 30, 1875
Mount Olive, Izard County, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 1935 (aged 60)
Newport, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2

Early life and education

edit

Jeffery was born in Mount Olive, Izard County, Arkansas, the oldest of 10 siblings. He studied law and was admitted to the Arkansas Bar Association in 1925.[1]

Career

edit

Jeffrey was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1900 and served until 1902. He also operated a legal practice in Newport, Arkansas. He was elected prosecuting attorney of the Arkansas Circuit Court for the third circuit in 1906 and became a judge of the same court in 1910. A childhood friend of Congressman William Allan Oldfield, Jeffery was recommended for a position in the Wilson administration. He was appointed to serve as ambassador to Uruguay in 1915 and remained in the position until 1921.[2][3] After returning to Arkansas, Jeffery became an advocate for education in rural communities.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Robert Emmett Jeffery Jr. (1875–1935)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  2. ^ "Robert Emmett Jeffery - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  3. ^ Downs, Winfield Scott (1934). Encyclopedia of American Biography: New Series. American Historical Society.