​PENFIELD, FREDERIC COURTLAND. Author and diplomat. Born in Connecticut, 1855, and after completing his education in England and Germany, became in 1885 vice-consul general at London. He later served in Egypt as American consul-general, and in 1913 was appointed by President Wilson ambassador to Austria-Hungary. There he remained in charge of United States affairs until the severance of diplomatic relations in 1917. During the period of American neutrality (1914-1917) he took care of the interests in Austria-Hungary of several of the belligerents.