Merle Thorpe, Jr. (1918 – February 13, 1994) was an American lawyer and philanthropist.

Merle Thorpe Jr.
Born1918 (1918)
DiedFebruary 13, 1994(1994-02-13) (aged 75–76)
Alma materYale College
Yale University
Occupation(s)Lawyer and philanthropist

Early life, education and military service

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Thorpe was born in Washington, D.C., and attended the Sidwell Friends School, the St. Albans School – both in Washington – and the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire.[1][2] He then earned bachelor's and law degrees from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.[1]

Thorpe served as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer during World War II.

Career and philanthropy

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After the war, Thorpe joined the Washington, D.C., law firm Hogan & Hartson, where he was a partner from 1956 to 1982.[1]

Thorpe led a number of early shareholder's rights battles.[2]

Thorpe took a trip to the Middle East with U.S. Senator William Fulbright in 1975 and afterwards Fulbright became a mentor to Thorpe about the region.

Thorpe's interest in the region led him to start the Foundation for Middle East Peace in 1979.[2][3]

Death

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He died of cancer in 1994.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Robert Sherrod Dies". The Washington Post. 15 February 1994.
  2. ^ a b c d "Merle Thorpe, 76, Shareholders' Rights Advocate". The New York Times. 15 February 1994.
  3. ^ "Personality Merle Thorpe, Jr". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. 17 December 1984.