Cross, Samuel Hazzard (1891–1946)

Slavic language specialist and diplomat. He served from the end of World War I until 1926 in a variety of diplomatic posts. In 1930 he became professor of Slavic languages at Harvard, a post he held until his death. He was known for his brilliant linguistic skills.

He was born in Westerly, Rhode Island. His diplomatic posts included commercial attaché to the American embassy in Belgium 1921–25, and then chief of the European Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Trade. He resigned in 1926 and after a time in the securities business, he began in 1928 to lecture in history and German language at Harvard and Tufts. He was an avid fan of Russian architecture and ballet.