George C. Marshall

Full Name: George Catlett Marshall Jr.
Profession: General and US Secretary of State

Nationality:

Biography: George C. Marshall was an American military leader, statesman, and Nobel laureate who played a pivotal role in the Allied victory in World War II and shaped the post-war reconstruction efforts. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 "for proposing and supervising the plan for the economic recovery of Europe"

Marshall graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1901 and embarked on a distinguished military career. He served in various posts in the Philippines and the United States during his early career and participated in World War I as a staff officer.

Marshall's most notable contribution came during World War II. Appointed as the Army Chief of Staff by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, Marshall was instrumental in overseeing the expansion and training of the United States Army from a small, ill-equipped force into a formidable military power. He supported strategies that led to the defeat of the Axis powers, collaborating closely with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, and other Allied leaders.

One of his most significant legacies is the European Recovery Program, better known as the Marshall Plan, which he proposed in a commencement speech at Harvard University on June 5, 1947. The plan aimed to rebuild the economies and spirits of western Europe, which were devastated by war. It provided over $12 billion in economic assistance and helped to halt the spread of communism, foster a revival of European industrialization, and stabilize the region politically.

For his leadership during World War II and his efforts to restore Europe, Marshall was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. He is the only professional soldier to receive the Nobel Prize for peace.

Marshall also served as Secretary of State from 1947 to 1949, during which he laid the groundwork for NATO and oversaw the creation of the Marshall Plan. From 1950 to 1951, he served as Secretary of Defense during the Korean War. He is the only man to have served as both Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

Born: December 31, 1880
Birthplace: Uniontown, Pennsylvania, USA
Star Sign: Capricorn

Died: October 16, 1959 (aged 78)