David Thorne (diplomat)

David Thorne
David Thorne
United States Ambassador to Italy; United States Ambassador to San Marino
	In office; September 4, 2009 – July 30, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Ronald Spogli
Succeeded by	John Phillips
Personal details
Born	David Hoadley Thorne; September 16, 1944 (age 80)
Children	2
Relatives	Julia Thorne (twin sister); Alexandra Kerry (niece); Vanessa Kerry (niece);
Alma mater	Yale University; Columbia University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1966–1970
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

David Hoadley Thorne (born September 16, 1944)^[1] is an American businessman and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Italy and Ambassador to San Marino from 2009 to 2013. He was nominated by President Barack Obama and sworn in on August 17, 2009.^[2]

David Thorne's parents were Alice Smith (Barry) and Landon Ketchum Thorne Jr. David lived in Italy for a decade while his father helped administer the Marshall Plan.^[2] David's twin sister Julia was the first wife of John Kerry.^[1] Thorne graduated from Yale University in 1966 with a B.A. in American History, where he roomed with Kerry and both were members of Skull and Bones,^[3]^: 85 and then from Columbia University in 1971 with a master's degree in journalism.^[4] He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, and worked in political consulting, real estate development, and publishing. He is married and has two grown children.^[2]

Honours and decorations

Italy Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on March 26, 2013^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b Feeney, Mark (2006-04-28). "Julia Thorne, at 61; author, activist was ex-wife of Senator Kerry". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
^ ^a ^b ^c Smith, James F. (2009-08-20). "Many hats, one perfect fit". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
^ Robbins, Alexandra (2002). Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and the Hidden Paths of Power. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-72091-7.
^ United States Department of State
^ "Thorne Amb. David decorated". The official website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic.

External links

Media related to David Thorne at Wikimedia Commons

"Ambassador to Italy". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2011-04-11.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ronald Spogli	United States Ambassador to Italy 2009–2013	Succeeded by John Phillips
Preceded by Ronald Spogli	United States Ambassador to San Marino 2009–2013	Succeeded by John Phillips