Warren Austin

Warren Robinson Austin (November 12, 1877 – December 25, 1962) was an American politician and diplomat who served as United States Senator from Vermont and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Austin is a native Vermonter from Highgate Center. He was educated in Highgate Center and Bakersfield and also took French classes in Quebec. In 1899, he graduated from the University of Vermont. He studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar in 1920. Austin then practiced law in partnership with his father.

Austin settled in St. Albans and became active in politics, becoming a Republican and serving in several local offices including Grand Juror and Chairman of the city Republican Committee and State’s attorney of Franklin County (1904-1906). In 1908, he was chairman of the state Republican convention, and he served as Mayor of St. Albans from 1909 to 1910. Austin served as a commissioner for the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit from 1907 to 1915. In 1917, he moved to Burlington, where he continued to practice law. Austin’s fame grew and he was a trustee at the University of Vermont from 1914 to 1941 and an attorney before the United States Court for China between 1916 and 1917. Austin was a special counsel to the state of Vermont during the setting of the official boundary between Vermont, New Hampshire from 1925 to 1937.

In 1931, Austin was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election, defeating Frank C. Partridge, who had been appointed to fill the vacancy after the death of Frank L. Greene. Austin served as the Senate’s Assistant Majority Leader (Minority whip) from 1939 to 1942. In 1946 he resigned to accept president Harry S. Truman’s appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He was elected to office in January 1947 and became the first person to hold this position. Austin was in office until January 1953 when Eisenhower took over. During his retirement, he lived in Burlington and died there in 1962. Austin was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.