Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa. After graduating from Stanford University in 1895, Hoover became a mining engineer, a profession he practiced until 1913. During World War I, he became involved in relief operations in Europe. He served as the chairman of the American Relief Commission in London, then became the chairman of the Commission for Relief in Belgium. In 1917 he was appointed U.S. food administrator. In 1921 Hoover was appointed secretary of commerce. He was elected president of the United States in 1928. During his presidency, the stock market crashed, and he was frequently blamed for the Great Depression that followed. He was soundly defeated for re-election in 1932. Hoover retired to private life for several years, but following World War II he organized relief efforts in Europe. He also headed two commissions that made important recommendations on policy and organization within the executive branch of government. Herbert Hoover died in New York in 1964.
