  george von lengerke meyer (june 24, 1858 â march 9, 1918) was a massachusetts businessman and politician who served in the massachusetts house of representatives, as united states ambassador to italy and russia, as united states postmaster general from 1907 to 1909 during the administration of president theodore roosevelt and united states secretary of the navy from 1909 to 1913 during the administration of president william howard taft. ==biography== meyer was a native of boston, reared in a patrician society. his paternal grandfather, george augustus meyer (also the name of von lengerke meyer's father), had emigrated from germany to new york city. meyer graduated from harvard in 1879, and for twenty years was in business as a merchant and trustee. in 1885, he married marian alice appleton. he was a director of various trust companies, banks, manufacturing companies, and public utilities concerns. while managing his business affairs, he also held positions in state and local government, his public service beginning in 1889 with the boston common council. later he serve
1858_births 1918_deaths Ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Italy Ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Russia American_people_of_German_descent Harvard_University_alumni Massachusetts_Republicans Members_of_the_Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives People_from_Boston,_Massachusetts Speakers_of_the_Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives Taft_administration_cabinet_members Theodore_Roosevelt_administration_cabinet_members United_States_Postmasters_General United_States_Secretaries_of_the_Navy