John W. Garrett

John Work Garrett (May 19, 1872 – June 26, 1942) was an American diplomat. His postings included Minister to Venezuela, Argentina, and the Netherlands, and Ambassador to Italy. Early life Garrett was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 19, 1872. He was the son of Alice Dickerson (née Whitridge) Garrett (1851–1920) and Thomas Harrison Garrett (1849–1888), who operated the family's bank in Baltimore. He was also the grandson of John W. Garrett, a banker and the president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and nephew of Robert Garrett, who also served as President of the B&O. Garrett graduated from Princeton University, with a B.S. degree, in 1895 and began a career at the bank owned by his family. He later received an honorary LL.D. from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. Career In 1901, Garrett embarked on a diplomatic career with appointment as Secretary of the United States legation at The Hague. In 1905, he transferred to a similar position in Berlin, and in 1908 another transfer brought him to Rome.