Charles J. Vopicka
Charles J. Vopicka | |
|---|---|
U.S. Minister to Serbs, Croats and Slovenes ) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Karel Boromejský Josef Vopička November 3, 1857 Democratic |
| Spouse |
Victoria K. Kubin (m. 1883) |
| Children | 6 |
Charles Joseph Vopicka (born as Karel Boromejský Josef Vopička) (November 3, 1857 – September 4, 1935) was an American diplomat of Czech origin who served as United States Minister to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia.
Early life
He was born as Karel Boromejský Josef Vopička on 3 November 1857 at Dolní Hbity house 2, Příbram, Bohemia, Austrian Empire and baptized Catholic the next day.[1] He was one of fourteen children.[2] His father was a farmer and the mayor of their community.[3]
By 1880, he had emigrated to live in
Career
He worked with his wife's brother Otto Kubin in the real estate and banking business until 1888. In the early 1900s, he became the President and Manager of Atlas Brewing Company of Chicago. He ran for Congress on the
On September 11, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson[4] appointed Vopicka as United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria.[5] The outbreak of the Great War made his job all the more difficult.
Added to the delicate situation which was created by the daily snapping of diplomatic threads, there was imposed upon him the extra hazardous task of acting as Chairman of the International Commission in Serbia, where he was also representing the German and Austro-Hungarian interests. He was representing British interests in Bulgaria and German and Turkish interests in Romania. Representing nine nations in Bucharest, during the German occupation of that city, his life for four years was one of extraordinary activity and private and public strain. Acting for Germany and Turkey he handed their ultimatum to Romania. Likewise to him fell the task of persuading several hundred thousand Russians to remain in the trenches to fight the Central Powers to the bitter end. After the termination of hostilities and the consequent resumption of international amenities, Minister Vopicka conducted parleys for the various powers and has notably assisted in the task of building order out of chaos and destruction. In the spring of 1920, he resigned.[2]
In 1917, Vopicka traveled to Berlin, after remaining in
Later career
After his diplomatic career ended in 1920, he returned to Chicago where he was a member of the Board of Education from 1927 to 1930.[8] A friend of Queen Marie of Romania, he was instrumental in bringing the Queen to Chicago when she visited the United States in 1926. He also served as chairman of the board of the Atlas Brewing Company until his death in 1935.[8]
Personal life
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On February 3, 1883, Vopicka was married to Victoria K. Kubin (1862–1952) from
- Victoria Vopicka, who married U.S. Representative William H. Stevenson.[3]
- Elsie Vopicka, who married Edward Kralovec.[3]
- Clara Vopicka, who married Jerome Schelsinger.[3]
- Mildred Vopicka, who married Thomas J. Doyle.[3]
- Helen Vopicka, who married Gordon William Dougherty.[3]
- Harriet Vopicka, who married Raymond Hockmuth.[3]
Vopicka died in Chicago on September 4, 1935, after attending the funeral of
Honors and legacy
In 1918, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Star of Romania "as a recognition of his devotion to the allied cause and especially to Rumania during these trying times."[10] He also received the Grand Cordon of the White Eagle, First Class, from the Prince Regent of Serbia.[8]
References
- ^ "Státní oblastní archiv v Praze". ebadatelna.soapraha.cz. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Charles J. Vopicka". Czechoslovak Review. Foreign Language Press Survey. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h The Czechoslovak Review. Bohemian Review Company. 1921. p. 302. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Selected as Envoys.; Wilson Chooses T.H. Birch for Lisbon and C.J. Vopicka for Balkans" (PDF). The New York Times. Washington. September 4, 1913. p. 8. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Charles Joseph Vopicka (1857–1935)". Office of the Historian. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "To Remove Vopicka From Bucharest; Washington Acts on Germany's Charge That American Envoy Is Unneutral. Other Blunders Reported; Minister Once 'Phoned "Good Morning, Queen,"' to Rumanian Sovereign, it is Said" (PDF). The New York Times. Washington. January 6, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ "Vopicka Arrives in Berlin" (PDF). The New York Times. Berlin. January 18, 1917. p. 2. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Special to The New York Times (September 5, 1935). "C. J. Vopicka Dead; Diplomat was 77; Prominent Chicagoan, Former Minister to Balkans, Had Headed Brewing Company". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "DigiArchiv of SRA Trebon - ver. 20.06.17". digi.ceskearchivy.cz. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Rumania Honors Vopicka.; Serbs Also Recognize War Service of American Minister" (PDF). The New York Times. Bucharest. June 5, 1919. p. 14. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
| Diplomatic Agent (1880–81) | |
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| Chargé d'Affaires (1881–1882) | |
| Minister Resident (1882–1892) | |
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary (1892–1965) | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1965–present) |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
