Born in Geneva, Switzerland. Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1931. Married Phyllis Chess Ellsworth March 10, 1931. They had two daughters. She died in 1982. Married Susan Slate Sage January 1, 1983.

Worked for Dillon, Read & Co., member of the New York Stock Exchange 1931 to 1936. He was elected president of Dillon & Read Co. in 1938. Served as Chairman of the Board 1946 to 1953.

Entered the Naval Reserve as an ensign in 1940. Served four years active duty. He received the Air Medal and Legion of Merit.

Appointed U. S. Ambassador to France by President Eisenhower serving February 1953 to March 1957. Served as Under Secretary of State June 12, 1959, to January 4, 1961.

Appointed Secretary of the Treasury and served January 21, 1961, to April 1, 1965. His signature appears on Silver Certificates, series of 1935-H, 1953-C and 1957-B; and Federal Reserve Notes, series of 1950-D and 1963. Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.

He was president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York after 1970 to 1978 and chairman 1978 to 1983.

Dillon was honored with a mint medal (USM 219) as one of the series for Secretaries of the Treasury. The obverse die was by Gilroy Roberts. The reverse was by Frank Gasparro.

Dillon appears on the Assay Commission Medal for 1963 (AC-107). The obverse is a reduction from the regular Treasury Secretary medal.

bio: BDEB; BNR 1/93; CBY 1953; Failor; IntWW 92-93; WW 93; WWA 94 DOD:SSDI; obit:CW 2/3/2003