Shelby Cullom Davis

For Shelby Cullom Davis's son, see Shelby Davis. For the scholarship named for Davis's son, see Shelby Davis Scholarship.

Shelby Cullom Davis
United States Ambassador to Switzerland
In office July 17, 1969 – April 10, 1975
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	John S. Hayes
Succeeded by	Peter H. Dominick
Personal details
Born	(1909-04-01)April 1, 1909 Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Died	May 26, 1994(1994-05-26) (aged 85) Hobe Sound, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kathryn Wasserman Davis (1932-1994, his death)
Children	Shelby Davis, Diana Cullom Davis Spencer, Priscilla Alden Davis
Alma mater	The Lawrenceville School Princeton University Columbia University Graduate Institute of International Studies
Occupation	Journalist Investment Banker Diplomat

Shelby Cullom Davis (April 1, 1909 – May 26, 1994) was an American businessman and philanthropist from the state of New York and served as the American Ambassador to Switzerland under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Originally from Peoria, Illinois Davis' uncle was former Illinois Governor Shelby Moore Cullom

Education

After graduating from The Lawrenceville School in 1926, he matriculated to Princeton University, graduating in 1930 and earned a master's degree at Columbia University in 1931. He earned a doctorate in political science at the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, in 1934. His dissertation was about military personnel in Africa (Reservoirs of men, a history of the black troops of French West Africa).

Thomas E. Dewey

Shelby joined the staff of District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey as an economist and research assistant. He advised Dewey during his presidential runs in 1940 and 1944 and was later appointed by then-New York Governor Dewey as First Deputy Superintendent of Insurance from 1944 to 1947.

Business career

Prior to his government service, Shelby had worked as a European correspondent for CBS Radio in Geneva. In 1941 he became a member of the New York Stock Exchange. 6 years later, with an investment of $100,000 he founded and headed Shelby Cullom Davis & Company, an investment firm, specializing in insurance securities. At the time of his death Shelby served as chairman. His son, Shelby Davis, formed Davis Selected Advisers in 1969 and by the 1980s had made the cut for Forbes Magazine's richest 400 Americans.

Death

Davis died at his home in Hobe Sound, Florida, aged 85, following a brief illness. He was survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathryn Wasserman Davis; two children Shelby M. C., of Manhattan; a daughter, Diana D. Spencer and eight grandchildren.

Philanthropy

He provided significant financial support to Princeton University (his alma mater) and also funded chairs at Wellesley College, and professorships of free enterprise at Wellesley and at the Cullom - Davis Library at Bradley University. A Professorship of International Security Studies at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy was also instituted in his name. He also provided support to the Library and Museum of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in NYC. His generous support of the Society of Colonial Wars is recognized in part through the Shelby Cullom Davis Lecture. In December 2013 it was announced that through his charitable fund a $10 million donation was made to Colby College, Waterville, Maine.

Affiliations

Davis was chairman and treasurer of an eponymous, conservative think tank, the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation, at the time of his death. He was also affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, The Mayflower Society, Sons of the Revolution, The Society of the Cincinnati and was an officer of The Huguenot Society of America.

External links

• New York Times obituary for Shelby Cullom Davis
• Victims of Communism Memorial: A Progress Report
• The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies
• The Davis Funds
• Princeton University's Davis Center