Edward J. Hale

Edward Joseph Hale (December 25, 1839 – February 15, 1922) was an American soldier, journalist, and diplomat. He is mostly notable as ambassador to Costa Rica from 1913-1917 and publisher of The Fayetteville Observer from the mid-1860s to 1919.

Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was youngest son of his parents. His father was Edward Jones Hale, worked as an editor. His mother was Margaret Walker.

During the civil war, he served in 5th North Carolina Infantry, he was later appointed to the staff of General James Henry Lane as major. At the end of the war he was recommended for promotion tobrigadier general, but did not achieve the rank.

Hale's father bought the Carolina Observer in 1825, a political paper. General Sherman destroyed the publication's building immediately on entering Fayetteville in 1865. After the war, he briefly has a publishing business in New York, before returning to Fayetteville and resuming publication of the Observer, renamed The Fayetteville Observer. Hale's four sons joined the business, and it remained in the family until sold in 1919.

His diplomatic career began when President Grover Cleveland appointed him as consul for Manchester, England. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson nominated him for the ambassadorship of the United State to Costa Rica. That appointment lasted three years; in 1917, a coup replaced the government, which the United States refused to recognize, recalling embassy staff.

In 1913 he became ambassador to Costa Rica, under the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. He remained ambassador until 1917, he was recalled after the overthrow of the government of Costa Rica, leading the Wilson administration to refuse to recognize their new government.

In between the two diplomatic appointments, he was the moving force behind the creation of the canal system of the Cape Fear River.