George Thomas Summerlin (November 11, 1872 – July 1, 1947) was an American army officer and diplomat from Louisiana. He was born in Rayville, Louisiana and studied at private schools there. In 1888, he began college at Louisiana State University, before transferring two years later to the United States Military Academy. He graduated from the latter in 1896, and was chosen aide-de-camp to General Theodore Schwan at the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. He rose to the rank of captain in the U.S. Army before resigning in 1903. After a few years in business in Pittsburgh, he entered the State Department as a clerk. After rising through the ranks and serving in Japan, China, Mexico and Italy, he was appointed Minister to Honduras in 1924. In 1929, he was transferred to Venezuela, and in 193