William J. Donovan

Bill Donovan
Director of the Office of Strategic Services
In office
June 13, 1942 – October 1, 1945
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
DeputyJohn Magruder
Preceded byHimself (as Coordinator of Information)
Succeeded byJohn Magruder (as Director of the Strategic Services Unit)
United States Ambassador to Thailand
In office
September 4, 1953 – August 21, 1954
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byEdwin F. Stanton
Succeeded byJohn Peurifoy
Coordinator of Information
In office
July 11, 1941 – June 13, 1942
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byHimself (as Director of the Office of Strategic Services)
Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division
In office
1926–1927
PresidentCalvin Coolidge
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJohn Lord O'Brian
Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
In office
1924–1925
PresidentCalvin Coolidge
Preceded byEarl J. Davis
United States Attorney for the Western District of New York
In office
1922–1924
PresidentWarren G. Harding
Preceded byStephen T. Lockwood
Succeeded byThomas Penney Jr.
Personal details
Born
William Joseph Donovan

(1883-01-01)January 1, 1883
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 8, 1959(1959-02-08) (aged 76)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
EducationNiagara University
Columbia University (BA, LLB)
Civilian awards
Nickname"Wild Bill"[1]
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/service
Years of service
  • 1912–1917 (National Guard)
  • 1917–1919 (active)
  • 1919–1941 (reserve)
  • 1941–1945 (active)
RankMajor General
Commands
Battles/wars
Military awards

William Joseph "Wild Bill"[1] Donovan KBE (January 1, 1883 – February 8, 1959) was an American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during World War II. He is regarded as the founding father of the CIA, and a statue of him stands in the lobby of the CIA headquarters building in Langley, Virginia.

A decorated veteran of World War I, Donovan is believed to be the only person to have been awarded all four of the following prestigious decorations: the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Security Medal.[2] He is also a recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart, as well as decorations from a number of other nations for his service during both World Wars.

  1. ^ a b Brown 1982, p. 56
  2. ^ "William J. Donovan". www.justice.gov. January 29, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2022.