Richard Kerens was an American diplomat and businessman. He served as the American ambassador to Austria-Hungary from 1909 to 1913. During the American Civil War, he served in the Union Army, and later worked as a contractor for the Overland Mail before going into politics.
Biography
When Henry Jones' world lecture tour brought him to Vienna, Kerens hosted the Jones family to his residence and used his influence so that they would enjoy the best the city had to offer. Because young Indiana Jones took Sophie von Hohenberg to a joy ride, Archduke Franz Ferdinand sent a complaint letter to him.
The next day Kerens hosted the first psychoanalytic conference with Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler and Carl Jung making a toast wishing them success for their new science.
Behind the scenes
In the episode "Vienna, November 1908", Ambassador Kerens was portrayed by actor Bruce Boa, who is more famous for having portrayed General Rieekan in the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.
The real world Kerens served in the Union army during the US Civil War. After the war he lived in Arkansas and San Diego, California, and was contractor for the Overland Mail. In 1876 he moved to St. Louis, and thereafter was interested in the construction of railroads and was active in the Republican politics of Missouri. In 1892, he became a member of the Republican National Committee. From 1909 to 1913 he was Ambassador to Austria-Hungary.