Frederick M. Alger Jr.

Summary

Frederick Moulton Alger Jr. (August 3, 1907 – January 7, 1967) was an American politician and diplomat.

Frederick M. Alger Jr.
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office
May 26, 1953 – March 27, 1957
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byMyron M. Cowen
Succeeded byJohn Clifford Folger
Michigan Secretary of State
In office
1947–1952
GovernorKim Sigler
G. Mennen Williams
Preceded byHerman H. Dignan
Succeeded byOwen J. Cleary
Personal details
Born(1907-08-03)August 3, 1907
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJanuary 7, 1967(1967-01-07) (aged 59)
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Suzette
    (m. 1929; died 1963)
  • Katherine
    (m. 1963)
Military service
Allegiance United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life edit

Alger was born on August 3, 1907, to parents Frederick Moulton and Mary Eldridge Alger in Detroit, Michigan. He was a grandson of Russell A. Alger.[1]

Military career edit

Alger served in the United States Navy during World War II.[1]

Political career edit

Alger unsuccessfully ran for the position of United States Representative from Michigan's 14th District in 1936. He received 34.4% of the vote.[2] Alger served as the Michigan Secretary of State from 1947 to 1952. In 1950, Alger ran in the Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary unsuccessfully. Alger was the Republican nominee in the 1952 Michigan gubernatorial election, but was again unsuccessful.[1][3]

Diplomatic career edit

Alger was appointed to the position of United States Ambassador to Belgium by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 26, 1953. The presentation of his credentials occurred on July 22, 1953. The termination of mission occurred on March 27, 1957.[4]

Personal life edit

Alger married Suzette de Marigny Dewey in 1929. He was widowed in 1963. Later in the year, he married Katherine Sutton. Alger was a member of a number of organizations including the American Legion, the Elks, the Sons of the American Revolution, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the World Wars, and was a Freemason. Alger was Presbyterian.[1]

Death edit

Alger died on January 7, 1967, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Alger family of Michigan". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Statistic of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1936" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "Summary of Vote for Governor, 1835-2002" (PDF). Michigan Legislature. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Department History - Frederick Moulton Alger Jr. (1907–1967)". Office of the Historian. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Michigan Secretary of State
1946, 1948, 1950
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Michigan
1952
Succeeded by
Donald S. Leonard