John R. Burke

John R. Burke
United States Ambassador to Guyana
In office
September 30, 1977  September 29, 1979
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byMax V. Krebs
Succeeded byGeorge B. Roberts Jr.
Personal details
Born
John Richard Burke

(1924-12-07)December 7, 1924
Madison, Wisconsin, US
DiedAugust 7, 1993(1993-08-07) (aged 68)
Arlington, Virginia, US
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
SpouseAmelie Cecillion Burke
ResidenceArlington, Virginia
OccupationUnited States Ambassador

John Richard Burke (December 7, 1924 – August 7, 1993) was a Foreign Service officer and the United States Ambassador to Guyana during the Jonestown Massacre.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1924, Burke was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy during World War II. He also served during the Korean War.

After his Korean service, he earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Burke was the Ambassador to Guyana from September 30, 1977, to September 22, 1979.

Burke died of a heart attack on August 7, 1993, at his home in Arlington, Virginia. His ashes were interred at Arlington National Cemetery.