George Platt Waller Jr. (September 7 1889 – February 26 1962) was an American diplomat who served as United States chargé d’affaires in Luxembourg during the early years of World II. His career in the U.S. Foreign Service spanned postings in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and he was recognized with several foreign honors for his service.
Early life and education
Waller was born in Montgomery, Alabama, to George Platt Waller and Susan Theresa Jones. He was homeschooled before attending public school and subsequently enrolled at Marion Military Institute (1905‑1907). He continued his education at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1912 with a law degree. After completing his studies, he worked briefly as a high‑school principal in Chilhowie, Virginia (1912‑1913).
Diplomatic career
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Early postings (1913‑1919) – Waller entered the U.S. Consular Service in February 1913 as vice‑consul in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. In July 1914 he was transferred to Karlsbad, Bohemia, but requested a reassignment after Austria‑Hungary entered World I, citing personal sympathies with Anglo‑Saxon nations. Following a period of review, he was reassigned to Athens, Greece, where he served as senior vice‑consul (1915‑1919) and acted as vice‑consul‑in‑charge (October 1916 – May 1917) during Greece’s wartime turmoil.
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Interwar period – Waller later held the post of consul in Dresden, Germany. In 1931 he was appointed American chargé d’affaires in Luxembourg, the principal diplomatic representative of the United States in the Grand Duchy.
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World War II – As chargé d’affaires, Waller remained in Luxembourg after the German invasion on 10 May 1940. He continued to represent U.S. interests throughout the occupation until diplomatic relations were effectively suspended. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Luxembourg War Cross on 24 June 1946.
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Later activities – On 24 June 1948, Waller negotiated the purchase of the property that would become the United States Embassy in Luxembourg. He subsequently left Luxembourg permanently and retired from active diplomatic service.
Honors and awards
- Knight of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece), awarded 4 December 1919.
- Luxembourg War Cross, awarded 24 June 1946.
Death
George Platt Waller died on 26 February 1962.
References
- “George Platt Waller,” Alchetron, the Free Social Encyclopedia (accessed 2026).
- “George Platt Waller,” Wikipedia (text version).
- United States Department of State archival records on consular appointments.
This entry summarizes publicly available biographical information and does not include speculative or unverified details.
