Clarence E. Gauss

Clarence Edward Gauss was an American diplomat.

Personal background

Gauss was born in Washington, D.C., as the son of Herman Gauss and Emile J. Gauss. He married Rebecca Louise Barker in 1917. He was a Republican and a Protestant.

Diplomatic career

Gauss was a career Foreign Service Officer for the United States Foreign Service. He was posted as U.S. Vice Consul in Shanghai, 1912–15; U.S. Consul in Shanghai, 1916; Amoy, 1916–20; Jinan, 1920–23; U.S. Consul General in Mukden, 1923–24; Jinan, 1924–26; Shanghai, 1926–27, 1935–38; Tianjin, 1927–31; Paris, 1935; Shanghai, 1935-1940. From 1940-41 he served as U.S. Minister to Australia, and was the United States ambassador to the Republic of China during the Second World War. He resigned from the post in November 1944, and was replaced by Patrick Hurley.

Chronology

U.S. Vice Consul

Shanghai, 1912–15

U.S. Consul

Shanghai, 1916
Amoy, 1916–20
Jinan, 1920–23

U.S. Consul General

Mukden, 1923–24
Jinan, 1924–26
Shanghai, 1926–27, 1935–38
Tianjin, 1927–31
Paris, 1935
Shanghai, 1935-1940

U.S. Minister

Australia, 1940-1941

U.S. Ambassador

China, 1941-1944

Later life

After leaving diplomatic service, Gauss was director of the Export–Import Bank of the United States. He died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on April 8, 1960.