Alan Goodrich Kirk

Alan Goodrich Kirk
Admiral Alan G. Kirk
United States Ambassador to Taiwan
In office
June 7, 1962 – January 18, 1963
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Preceded byEverett F. Drumright
Succeeded byJerauld Wright
United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
In office
July 4, 1949 – October 6, 1951
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byWalter Bedell Smith
Succeeded byGeorge F. Kennan
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office
April 1, 1946 – May 6, 1949
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byCharles W. Sawyer
Succeeded byRobert Daniel Murphy
Personal details
Born
Alan Goodrich Kirk

(1888-10-30)October 30, 1888
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 15, 1963(1963-10-15) (aged 74)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Spouse
Lydia Chapin
(m. 1918)
RelativesCaspar F. Goodrich (uncle)
EducationUnited States Naval Academy
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1909–1946
RankAdmiral
CommandsU.S. Naval Forces, France
Battles/wars
Awards

Alan Goodrich Kirk (October 30, 1888 – October 15, 1963) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II who most notably served as the senior naval commander during the Normandy landings. After the war he embarked on a diplomatic career serving as US ambassador to Belgium, the Soviet Union and the Republic of China (Taiwan).