Gale, Esson M. (Esson McDowell), 1884-1964

Orientalist, government official and director of the International Center at University of Michigan.

From the description of Esson M. Gale papers, 1909-1965. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 83020185

From the description of Esson M. Gale papers, 1926-1965. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34420804

Esson M. Gale was born in Bad Axe, Mich., December 8, 1884. He received his B.A. (1907) and M.A. (1908) degrees from the University of Michigan and his doctorate at the University of Leyden, Holland. His specialty was Chinese language studies. Gale first went to China as a government language student interpreter following his graduation from the University of Michigan in 1908. He spent five years in the U.S. Consular Service in Peking and Shanghai; he would later become commissioner of the Chinese Salt Revenue Administration. He returned to the U-M in 1927 as visiting lecturer in Far Eastern history. He was lecturer and chairman of the department of oriental languages and literature at the University of California (Berkeley) from 1928 to 1932 and visiting professor of political science at Northwestern University in 1940-41. In 1942, he became acting James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan in 1942. In 1943, he was named to be second director of the International Center. He retired in 1955. Later, from 1958 to 1960, he would be visiting professor at Korea University. He died May 15, 1964.

From the guide to the Esson M. Gale papers, 1909-1965, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)