John (János) Pelényi – Horthy’s Ambassador who defected to the United States

As part of our series on lesser known or forgotten immigrants in North America from Hungary we remember John (János) Pelényi, Horthy’s Ambassador who defected to the United States in 1940. On December 5, 1940, Hungary fired 55-year-old ambassador to Washington, Mr. János Pelényi, after he abandoned the embassy in Washington DC and asked for asylum in the United States.  A […]

by · November 27, 2017 · Diaspora