Henry Morganthau: American Icon to the Ottoman Empire

Henry Morganthau was an American businessman, lawyer and diplomat. He served the US government during the World War I as Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. He became a prominent figure during the War because of his candid opposition against the Armenian Genocide.

The American Civil War brought a huge financial setback to the Morganthau family because Germany stopped exporting tobacco to the US. The Morganthau’s were forced to migrate to the US in 1866. His father earned a living by raising funds for the Jewish houses of worship in New York.

Morganthau earned his BA at the City College of New York while he finished his Bachelor of Laws at the Columbia Law School. While practicing his law profession, Morganthau also earned a huge fortune by investing in real estate.

As an avid supporter of the Democrats, Morganthau’s political career was ushered in by his handsome contribution to the presidential campaign of Woodrow Wilson. When Wilson became the US President, Morganthau was appointed as US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in 1913, although Morganthau would have wished a cabinet position. Morganthau’s tenure ended in 1916.