Clare Hayes Timberlake was an American diplomat and career Foreign Service Officer who dedicated forty years of service to the United States Department of State. Born in 1907, Timberlake established a long and varied career in international relations, holding diplomatic posts in Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Timberlake is best known for his historic role as the first United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His diplomatic leadership extended to key administrative and advisory roles within the State Department, where he served as a special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Furthermore, he helped shape the future of American diplomacy through his work as a member of the Board of Examiners of the Foreign Service. Timberlake passed away in 1982, leaving behind a legacy of four decades of international public service.
