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Canning, Stratford (1786-1880) |
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A British diplomat, known after 1852 as Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe. Stratford was one of the greatest British diplomats of the nineteenth century and a perfect illustration of the influence which, in the pre-telegraphic age, could be wielded by an ambassador who was at once exceptionally able and well connected in governing circles at home. Enjoying the patronage of the Foreign Secretary George Canning, who was his cousin, he went to Istanbul as first secretary in 1808 and within two years (at the age of only twenty-four) was given temporary charge of this important embassy with the rank of minister plenipotentiary. Peace between Turkey and Russia was vital to British interests in the war with Napoleon and this was achieved with the assistance of Stratford\'s mediation in the Treaty of Bucharest of 28 May 1812. This established his diplomatic reputation and laid the foundation of the immense influence that he was to acquire in Istanbul when he returned there later in his career. He was minister to Switzerland from 1814 until 1818 and attended the Congress of Vienna to represent the British position on Swiss affairs. He served as minister to the USA from 1820 until 1824 and afterwards went on a special mission to Russia. In 1825 he was sent once more to Turkey, now with the rank of ambassador, and remained there until the end of 1827.
The years following Stratford\'s return from his second tour in Turkey saw a long period of parliamentary politics leavened with special diplomatic missions to Turkey (again) and Portugal. In 1833 Palmerston wanted to send him as ambassador to Russia but agrément was refused by the Tsar. However, his full-time diplomatic career was resumed in 1841 when he was sent on his third and final mission to Istanbul, which lasted until 1858. It was especially during this period that Stratford\'s influence was at its height, both in fostering reform within the Ottoman Empire and stiffening the resolve of its government to resist Russian pressure. Though historians now believe that the Turks would have adopted the posture which contributed to the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853 without Stratford\'s encouragement, there is little doubt that he deserved the title which they gave to him: ‘the Great Elchi’. Technically this meant simply ambassador rather than minister (elchi) but when applied to Stratford had the connotation of ‘ambassador par excellence’. |
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