Kent, Tyler

Tyler Gatewood Kent (1911-1988) was born in Newchang, Manchuria, China, where his father was a career officer in the American diplomatic service. Following in his father's footsteps, Kent was appointed to a diplomatic post in Moscow in 1933 and remained there for six years. In October 1939, Kent was transferred to the U.S. Embassy in London and assigned to the Code Room. In this capacity, he handled correspondence between Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was accused of having stolen more than 1500 documents from the Embassy files and providing information to the Germans. British officials arrested Kent for spying, but U.S. Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy waived diplomatic immunity for him. He was tried and convicted in October 1940 under the Official Secrets Act of 1911. He was eventually sent to the Camp Hill Prison in Newport on the Isle of Wight and was held there until November 1945 when he was deported to the United States.

From the description of Kent, Tyler G. (Tyler Gatewood), 1911-1988 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10571970