Diplomat, Businessman, Philanthropist. The son of famed western hat maker John Batterson Stetson, Sr., the younger Stetson graduated from Harvard in 1906 and worked at his father's hat company. The Stetson fortune enabled him to pursue his interests in several other fields, including aviation and South American archeology and ethnology. During World War I (WWI), he was among the first Americans to volunteer, serving as an instructor at the military aviation school in Tours, France with the rank of Captain, and remaining on active duty until 1920. In 1925, he was appointed Ambassador to Poland, where he served until 1930. As Ambassador, Stetson consistently advocated for the Polish position during disputes over territory on its border with Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he became a partner in a newly formed stock brokerage. Stetson resided in Pennsylvania and Florida, and his interest in Florida history led to his involvement in an effort to gather thousands of Spanish documents related to the early history of Florida, copies of which are now part of the University of Florida Archives.
Diplomat, Businessman, Philanthropist. The son of famed western hat maker John Batterson Stetson, Sr., the younger Stetson graduated from Harvard in 1906 and worked at his father's hat company. The Stetson fortune enabled him to pursue his interests in several other fields, including aviation and South American archeology and ethnology. During World War I (WWI), he was among the first Americans to volunteer, serving as an instructor at the military aviation school in Tours, France with the rank of Captain, and remaining on active duty until 1920. In 1925, he was appointed Ambassador to Poland, where he served until 1930. As Ambassador, Stetson consistently advocated for the Polish position during disputes over territory on its border with Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he became a partner in a newly formed stock brokerage. Stetson resided in Pennsylvania and Florida, and his interest in Florida history led to his involvement in an effort to gather thousands of Spanish documents related to the early history of Florida, copies of which are now part of the University of Florida Archives.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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