Jaime Torres Bodet

Jaime Torres Bodet
2nd Director-General of the UNESCO
In office 1948–1952
Preceded by	Julian Huxley
Succeeded by	John Wilkinson Taylor
Personal details
Born	17 April 1902 Mexico City, Mexico
Died	13 May 1974 Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality	Mexican
Occupation	Diplomat and writer

Jaime Torres Bodet (17 April 1902 – 13 May 1974) was a prominent Mexican politician and writer who served in the executive cabinet of three Presidents of Mexico.

A native of Mexico City, in the 1920s he was a prominent member of the literary group Los Contemporáneos.

Torres Bodet was appointed Secretary of Public Education (1943–46) by President Manuel Ávila Camacho; he then served as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1946–1951) under President Miguel Alemán Valdés. Later, in 1958–64, he was again appointed to serve as Secretary of Public Education, this time under President Adolfo López Mateos.

Between 1929 and the outbreak of the Second World War, Torres Bodet held diplomatic positions in Madrid, The Hague, Paris, Buenos Aires and Brussels. He served as director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 1948 to 1952. From 1955 to 1958 he was Ambassador to France.

He received the Medal of Honor Belisario Domínguez from the Senate in 1971.

He was also a member of the Mexican Language Academy (the national correspondent agency to the Spanish Royal Academy) and of the National College.

Gravely ill, Torres Bodet committed suicide in Mexico City on 13 May 1974.

External links

• Directors-General of UNESCO
• Biografía de: Jaime Torres Bodet (Los Poetas)
• Jaime Torres Bodet (SRE biography)