Francis Bowes Sayre Sr. (April 30, 1885 – March 29, 1972) was a professor at Harvard Law School, High Commissioner of the Philippines, and a son-in-law of President Woodrow Wilson. Assistant Secretary of State, High Commissioner of the Philippines, and U.S. representative to the United Nations Trusteeship Council. While Sayre was Siam's foreign affairs advisor, he was appointed by King Prajadhipok as Siam's representative on the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Crown of Siam, and was the second American advisor to be awarded the title Phya Kalyanamaitri or "the beautiful in friendship." The first American Adviser in Foreign Affairs, also a Harvard law professor, was Edward Henry Strobel. He was evacuated from the Philippines along with General Douglas MacArthur, President Manuel Quezon and other officials of the Commonwealth government after the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941.

Sayre's immediate subordinate in his later capacity of Assistant Secretary of State was Alger Hiss. and was buried at Washington National Cathedral.

Legacy

thumb|Study plan for early independence of Philippines. Washington, D.C., April 19, 1937, showing Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Sayre, (2nd from left) and Philippine President [[Manuel L. Quezon (3rd from left)]]Sayre's son, Francis Bowes Sayre Jr., (1915–2008) was the dean of the National Cathedral in Washington from 1951 until his retirement in 1978. His daughter Eleanor (1916–2001) was an expert on the Spanish painter Goya and served from 1945 to 1984 as a curator at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

The Sayre Highway stretching from Cagayan de Oro to Kabacan, Cotabato, in the Philippines was named after him, formerly named Route 3, since he was the one who spearheaded its construction.

Kanlayana Maitri Road, a short street near the Royal Grand Palace in the area of Rattanakosin Island or Bangkok's old town zone. It changed its name from "Bamrung Mueang Road" in his honor in 1973.

References

  • Francis B. Sayre correspondence at Williams College Archives & Special Collections
  • Glad Adventure - Autobiography