Richard Montgomery Tobin (April 9, 1866 – January 23, 1952) was an American banker and diplomat. He was a civic leader and philanthropist in San Francisco, California and served as United States Minister to the Netherlands.

Early life Richard Montgomery Tobin was born in San Francisco on April 9, 1866. He was the son of Mary (née Regan) Tobin and Richard Tobin, one of the earliest leaders of California after it became a possession of the United States. He was educated at St. Ignatius College (now the University of San Francisco).Harper Publishing, Who's who on the Pacific Coast, 1913, page 565

Career In 1889, he became an officer and member of the board of directors of the Hibernia Savings & Loan Association (later the Hibernia Bank), which had been founded by his father and uncle. He became Secretary and Treasurer in 1906, and President in 1933.Georgina Pell Curtis, Benedict Elder, The American Catholic Who's Who, 1911, page 654 Tobin was also involved in politics as a progressive Republican.New York Times, Tobin Supports Tubbs in Senatorial Battle, July 17, 1932New York Times, Tobin out for Johnson: Former Minister to Netherlands Praises Senator's Work, March 18, 1934

Tobin maintained homes in Pacifica, California and San Francisco, and was active in several San Francisco organizations as a board member, officer, and benefactor, including the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Musical Association, and Catholic church.New York Times, Tobin Heads Musical Body, April 16, 1933New York Times, San Francisco Acts to Fund Orchestra, January 24, 1935San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Programs of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Volume 52, 1961, title pageSan Francisco Museum of Art, Program, Opening with the Fifty-Fifth Annual Exhibition of the San Francisco Art Association, 1935, title page

Tobin joined the United States Navy Reserve for World War I, receiving a commission as a Lieutenant in December, 1917. He served in France throughout the war, working at the U.S. embassy as the officer in charge of cable traffic between Europe and the U.S., including censoring messages to ensure that secrets were not unintentionally revealed.John William Leonard, Who's Who in Finance, Banking, and Insurance, 1922, page 684

After the war Tobin remained in Europe, serving as an assistant to the U.S. Naval attaché and a member of the staff supporting the U.S. Commission which took part in negotiating the Treaty of Versailles.James Terry White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 41, 1967, page 155 He received the Legion of Honor from France in recognition of his military service.History of Music Project, Fifty Local Prodigies, 1906-1940, 1940, page 194

In 1923, Tobin was appointed U.S. Minister to the Netherlands, and he served until 1929.Minister Richard M. Tobin pays an official visit to Amsterdam, at YouTube. At the completion of his service he was presented with the Grand Cross of Orange-Nassau.New York Times, Tobin Back, Reviews Europe's New Faith, October 31, 1929 In 1931 he was made a Knight of the Order of Malta.New York Times, R. M. Tobin is Made a Knight of Malta, December 17, 1931 Tobin was initially also appointed as Ambassador to Luxembourg, which had been a dual appointment with the Netherlands for several years. He did not serve in this post because it was established as a separate embassy in 1923.Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State, Biographical summary, Richard Montgomery Tobin, accessed December 12, 2012

Foreign awards

Knight Grand Cross with Swords of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands) 1929

Personal life Tobin remained a bachelor until 1936, when he married Florence Adele Sloane Burden (1873–1960), the widow of wealthy businessman James A. Burden Jr.New York Times, Mrs. J.A. Burden Wed to Richard M. Tobin, July 7, 1936 She was a daughter of Emily Thorn Vanderbilt and great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt.New York Magazine, James Burden Mansion, June 5, 1995, page 86New York Times, Obituary, Mrs. R. M. Tobin, January 11, 1960

Tobin died in San Francisco on January 23, 1952.New York Times, Richard M. Tobin, Former Diplomat: Ex-Minister to the Netherlands, President of Hibernia Bank in San Francisco, Dies at 85, January 24, 1952 He was buried in San Mateo's Holy Cross Cemetery.San Mateo Times, Death Notice, Richard M. Tobin, January 25, 1952

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