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

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.

U.S. Vice Consul

• Shanghai, 1912–15

U.S. Consul

• Shanghai, 1916
• Amoy (now Xiamen), 1916–20
• Jinan, 1920–23

U.S. Consul General

• Mukden (now Shenyang), 1923–24
• Jinan, 1924–26
• Shanghai, 1926–27 (acting), 1935–38
• Tianjin, 1927–31
• Paris, 1935
• Shanghai, 1935-1940

U.S. Minister

• Australia, 1940-1941

U.S. Ambassador

• China, 1941-1944

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]

• Clarence E. Gauss at Find a Grave