Martin, Edwin M., October 25, 1978

Edwin M. Martin (May 21, 1908 - January 12, 2002), born in Dayton, Ohio, was an economist and diplomat. He attended Northwestern University, receiving his bachelor's in 1929. In 1935, Martin became an economist with the Central Statistical Board within the Commerce Department, working there for three and a half years, and then went on to work for the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1938 to 1940. From 1940 to 1944, Martin was on the War Production Board, becoming the Chief of the Urgency Ratings Division. In 1944, he was recruited to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), where he served as head of the Economic Division of the Office of the Far East Division of Research and Analysis.

It was with the OSS that Martin was sent to Japan to work in the Allied Occupation. He worked in the office of the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs and as State Adviser on Economic Affairs, helping with the economic planning for Japan. He remained with the State Department during the Occupation. In 1960, President Eisenhower appointed Martin as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs. Martin then worked as the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs under the Kennedy Administration from 1962 to 1964, serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1964, President Johnson appointed Martin as the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, a position he held until 1968. He went on to have various influential and distinguished positions dealing with economic development throughout the rest of his career. Edwin Martin passed away at the age of 93 in Washington, D.C.