Clarence Edward Gauss (January 12, 1887 – April 8, 1960)^[1] was an American diplomat.

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Clarence E. Gauss
United States Ambassador to China
In office May 26, 1941 – November 14, 1944
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Nelson T. Johnson
Succeeded by	Patrick Hurley
United States Minister to Australia
In office July 17, 1940 – March 5, 1941
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Diplomatic relations established
Succeeded by	Nelson T. Johnson
Consul General of the United States, Shanghai
In office 1935–1940
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Monnett Bain Davis
Succeeded by	Frank P. Lockhart
Personal details
Born	Clarence Edward Gauss (1887-01-12)January 12, 1887 Washington D.C.
Died	April 8, 1960(1960-04-08) (aged 73) Los Angeles

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Gauss was born in Washington, D.C., as the son of Herman Gauss and Emile J. (Eisenman) Gauss. He married Rebecca Louise Barker in 1917. He was a Republican and a Protestant.

Gauss was a career Foreign Service Officer for the United States Foreign Service. He was posted as U.S. Vice Consul in Shanghai, 1912–15; U.S. Consul in Shanghai, 1916; Amoy, 1916–20; Jinan, 1920–23; U.S. Consul General in Mukden, 1923–24; Jinan, 1924–26; Shanghai, 1926–27 (acting), 1935–38; Tianjin, 1927–31; Paris, 1935; Shanghai, 1935-1940. From 1940-41 he served as U.S. Minister to Australia, and was the United States ambassador to the Republic of China during the Second World War.^[2] He resigned from the post in November 1944, and was replaced by Patrick Hurley.

After leaving diplomatic service, Gauss was director of the Export–Import Bank of the United States. He died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on April 8, 1960.^[3]