Encyclopedia Dubuque
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SHEFFIELD, James R.
SHEFFIELD, James R. (Dubuque, IA, Aug. 13, 1864—-Saranac Lake, NY, Sept. 2, 1938) Born in Dubuque, Sheffield was raised in Utica, New York. He attended Williston Seminary and graduated from Yale University in 1887, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon and Scroll and Key. He was the class orator at graduation and won two English composition prizes, (1)
He attended Harvard Law School for a year and then continued studying law in Washington, D.C. while working as private secretary for William Boyd ALLISON. He was admitted to the bar in 1893 and began practicing law in New York City.
Active in politics as a Republican, Sheffield was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1893 and served one term. From 1895 to 1898, he was a member of New York City's Board of Fire Commissioners and served board's president in 1897 and 1898. He also served as the president of the Yale and Republican clubs. (2) Sheffield was a delegate to every New York State Republican Convention from 1896 to 1924 and a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1916, 1920, 1924, and 1936. He was active in judicial reform movements and efforts to improve local government in New York City.
He was twice offered appointment to the federal bench during Theodore's, both of which he declined. He was also a friend and political ally of Charles Evans Hughes, who was United States Secretary of State from 1921 to 1925. He served as President of The Union League Club from 1921-1924.
On September 9 1924, Sheffield was selected to serve as Ambassador to Mexico. (3) He served until 1927 earning notoriety for his racist views and contempt for members of the Mexican government. In 1925, act9ng on his own, he reprimanded Mexico's government for supporting Augusto César Sandino's revolutionary movement in Nicaragua. His actions complicated the Coolidge administration's nonconfrontation policy with Mexico. Sheffield was replaced on June 5, 1927 by Dwight Morrow who created a friendly relationship with President Plutarco Elías Calles.
Sheffield continued to practice law in New York City. In 1930, he was appointed a Special Ambassador to Venezuela, leading a US delegation for ceremonies dedicating a statue of Henry Clay in Caracas.
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Source:
1. The Twelfth General Catalogue of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity, Psi Upsilon, May, 1917, p. 152
2. Ibid.
3. "James Rockwell Sheffield," Office of the Historian, Online: https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/sheffield-james-rockwell