James Grover McDonald (November 29, 1886 – September 25, 1964) was a United States diplomat. He served as the first U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Early life McDonald was born in Coldwater, Ohio, on November 29, 1886. His parents operated a hotel, and later relocated to Albany, Indiana, to operate a second one. McDonald received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University Bloomington (IU) in 1909, and completed a master's degree in History, Political Science and International Relations at IU in 1910. He was selected for a teaching fellowship in history at Harvard University, and remained there until his returning to Indiana University as an assistant professor in 1914. While living in Albany McDonald met Ruth Stafford, and they married in 1915. They had two children, daughters Barbara Ann and Janet. McDonald's nephew was University of Connecticut library director John P. McDonald. McDonald taught at IU until 1918, including a break in 1915 and 1916 to study in Spain as a Harvard University traveling fellow. He also taught summer sessions at the University of Georgia in 1916 and 1917. In 1919 McDonald moved to New York City to work for the Civil Service Reform Association. Later career Chairman of the Board, Foreign Policy Association (1919–1933) League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Coming from Germany (1933–1935) Member, Editorial Staff, The New York Times (1936–1938) President of the "President Roosevelt Consultative Committee for Political Refugees" Member, U.S. Delegation at the Evian Conference (1938) President, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences (1938–1942) Chairman, President's Advisory Committee on Political Refugees (1938–1945) News Analyst, National Broadcasting Company, Blue Network (1942–1944) Member, Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry 1946 United States Special Representative to Israel (1948–1949) United States Ambassador to Israel (1949–1951) Chairman, Advisory Council, Development Corporation for Israel (1951–1961) High Commissioner for Refugees Coming from Germany In 1933 McDonald was assigned to chair the High Commission for Refugees (Jewish and Others) Coming from Germany. This body was proposed in October 1933. According to the proposal the High Commission would be an entirely autonomous organization in charge of finding its own funding as it would receive no financial support from the League of Nations, with which it was affiliated. The commission did not report to the League of Nations but rather only to the Commission’s Governing Body. The resolution for this commission was passed on October 12, 1933. During his time as High Commissioner McDonald sought out numerous avenues