Willis, Frances (1899–1983)

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Willis, Frances (1899–1983)

American diplomat. Name variations: Frances Elizabeth Willis. Born May 20, 1899, in Metropolis, Massac Co., Illinois; lived in California.

Foreign service officer, was only the 3rd woman accepted into the US foreign service (1927); began career on the US/Mexican border, as a vice counsel in Valparaiso (1929); posted to Madrid (1943), and Sweden; 1st appointed by Dwight Eisenhower, served as ambassador to Switzerland (1953–57), then Norway (1957–61), then Sri Lanka (1961–64); became the 1st woman in the foreign service to be appointed a career ambassador (Mar 20, 1962); retired (1964).