Martin was born in
Madurai,
India, Then, he embarked upon a career in the
U.S. Foreign Service, serving as a vice consul in
Bermuda (1941–44) and
Belgian Congo (1944). After military service during
World War II and Chinese language training at
Yale University, he was dispatched to
China during the
Civil War in that country (1946–49). After the
Republic of China retreat to Taiwan, Martin was the U.S consul at
Taipei (1949–50). During the 1950s, he participated in the Korean truce talks at
Panmunjom and bilateral talks with the
Chinese communists in
Geneva. Stations as
first secretary at the
U.S. Embassy in London (1956–58) and director of the State Department's
Office of Chinese Affairs (1958–1961) followed. He then served as political adviser to Admiral
Harry D. Felt at the
United States Pacific Command in Honolulu. Martin continued as deputy chief of mission in
Ankara (1964–67) and
consul general in Hong Kong (1967–70). He topped his diplomatic career as
Ambassador to Burma from October 1971 to November 1973. After retiring from the foreign service, Martin taught for five years at
Hiram College, Ohio, then returned to Washington, where he authored books on foreign policy and historical topics. He died in Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C., following surgery for an
aortic aneurysm. == Publications ==