Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe: British Diplomat and Statesman of the 19th Century

The Life of the Right Honourable Stratford Canning: Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe

by Stanley Lane-Poole

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Language	:	English
File size	:	2267 KB
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Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	1033 pages
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Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, also known as Sir Stratford Canning, was a prominent British diplomat and statesman who played a key role in shaping the course of European diplomacy during the 19th century. He served as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire for over 30 years, and his influence extended far beyond the borders of Turkey. Redcliffe was a master of diplomacy and a skilled negotiator, and he played a pivotal role in resolving some of the most pressing issues of his time, including the Eastern Question and the Crimean War.

Early Life and Career

Stratford Canning was born in London in 1786. He was the son of George Canning, a wealthy merchant, and Elizabeth Stratford. Canning was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered the diplomatic service in 1807 and served in various positions in Europe before being appointed ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in 1812.

Redcliffe's tenure as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire was marked by a series of diplomatic successes. He played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Bucharest in 1812, which ended the Russo-Turkish War and secured the independence of Serbia. He also worked to improve relations between the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain, and he helped to secure British commercial interests in the region.

The Eastern Question

The Eastern Question was one of the most pressing issues of the 19th century. It concerned the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the future of its territories in Europe. Redcliffe was a key figure in the debate over the Eastern Question, and he advocated for a policy of maintaining the integrity of the Ottoman Empire.

Redcliffe believed that the Ottoman Empire was a vital bulwark against Russian expansionism in the Middle East. He argued that the collapse of the Ottoman Empire would create a power vacuum that would be filled by Russia, which would threaten British interests in the region. Redcliffe's views were influential in shaping British policy towards the Ottoman Empire, and he played a key role in preventing the outbreak of war between Russia and Turkey in the 1830s and 1840s.

The Crimean War

Despite Redcliffe's efforts to maintain peace, war eventually broke out between Russia and Turkey in 1853. The Crimean War was a major conflict that pitted Russia against an alliance of Great Britain, France, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire. Redcliffe played a key role in bringing about the Crimean War, and he served as British ambassador to Turkey throughout the conflict.

Redcliffe was a strong advocate for British intervention in the Crimean War, and he believed that the war was necessary to prevent Russia from gaining control of the Ottoman Empire. He worked closely with Lord Palmerston, the British Prime Minister, to secure British support for the war effort. Redcliffe also played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris in 1856, which ended the Crimean War and secured the integrity of the Ottoman Empire.

Later Career and Legacy

Redcliffe returned to England after the Crimean War, and he was created Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe in 1858. He continued to serve as a diplomat and statesman, and he played a key role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, which ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Redcliffe retired from the diplomatic service in 1886, and he died in 1880.

Redcliffe was one of the most influential British diplomats of the 19th century. He played a key role in shaping the course of European diplomacy, and he made a significant contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Middle East. Redcliffe was a skilled negotiator and a master of diplomacy, and he was widely respected by his contemporaries.

Additional Information

• Redcliffe was a close friend and confidant of Queen Victoria.
• He was a patron of the arts and sciences, and he helped to establish the British Museum.
• Redcliffe was a controversial figure, and he was often criticized for his strong support of the Ottoman Empire.

Bibliography

• de Redcliffe, Stratford. The Eastern Question. London: John Murray, 1854.
• Palmerston, Lord. Life of Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston. London: Macmillan and Co., 1870.
• Ward, A. W., and G. P. Gooch. The Cambridge History of British Foreign Policy, 1783-1919. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1922.

The Life of the Right Honourable Stratford Canning: Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe

by Stanley Lane-Poole

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2267 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	1033 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE