Charles Hitchcock Sherrill

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1867, Charles Hitchcock Sherrill Jr. built an unusually varied career as a public servant and author. He graduated from Yale, practiced law, and became known early on as an athlete; he is often remembered in track history for helping popularize the crouching start in sprinting.

Sherrill later served in public office and diplomacy, including appointments as U.S. Minister to Argentina and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. He was also active in international sports administration, especially in connection with the Olympic movement, which matched his long interest in athletics.

Alongside his political and diplomatic work, he wrote books that drew on travel, history, and public affairs. He died in Paris in 1936, leaving behind the record of a life that ranged from American politics to world diplomacy and international sport.