Owen Lattimore Anglo-American orientalist. Date of Birth: 29.07.1900 Country: USA

1. Early Career and Travels
2. Academic and Research Endeavors
3. Government Service and International Diplomacy
4. Controversy and Dismissal
5. Later Career and Legacy

Early Career and Travels

Owen Lattimore, an eminent Anglo-American orientalist, dedicated his life to studying and promoting the understanding of Asian cultures. In 1919, he returned to China and served as an assistant editor for the Tientsin and Peking Times. From 1922 to 1926, he worked for Arnold & Co., Tientsin and Peking. In 1926, he married Eleanor Holgate, and together they embarked on extensive travels. They ventured into Inner Mongolia, the Gobi Desert, Kashmir, and India, before sailing to Italy.

Academic and Research Endeavors

After spending the 1927/1928 academic year at Harvard University, Lattimore returned to China to pursue his research. He received funding from various organizations to support his scholarly endeavors. His research primarily focused on Central Asia and its peoples.

Government Service and International Diplomacy

In 1941, President Roosevelt appointed Lattimore as an advisor to Chiang Kai-shek. From 1942 to 1944, he served as the Director of the Pacific Division of the Office of War Information. He accompanied Vice President Henry Wallace on his tour of China and Mongolia. In 1945, he was appointed an advisor to the U.S. mission in Japan. In 1950, he worked for the UN mission in Afghanistan.

Controversy and Dismissal

In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy accused Lattimore of espionage for the Soviet Union. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated Lattimore's alleged communist connections. His testimony before HUAC led to charges of perjury, but those charges were eventually dropped in 1955.

Later Career and Legacy

After his dismissal from government service, Lattimore taught at Johns Hopkins University. From 1963 to 1970, he taught at the University of Leeds in England. He passed away in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1989. Lattimore's scholarship, particularly on the history and cultures of Central Asia, continues to be highly influential in the field of Oriental studies.