Cecil Spring Rice
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The Right Honourable Sir Cecil Spring Rice GCMG GCVO |
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| British Ambassador to the United States | |
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In office 1912–1918 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| President |
William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson |
| Prime Minister |
H. H. Asquith David Lloyd George |
| Preceded by | James Bryce |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Reading |
| British Ambassador to Sweden | |
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In office 1908–1912 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Rennell Rodd |
| Succeeded by | Esme Howard |
| British Ambassador to Iran | |
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In office 1906–1908 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Arthur Hardinge |
| Succeeded by | Sir George Barclay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 February 1859 London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 14 February 1918 (aged 58) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Florence Caroline Lascelles |
| Relations | Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon, grandfather |
| Children | Mary and Anthony Spring Rice |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Religion | Church of England |
Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice GCMG GCVO PC (27 February 1859 – 14 February 1918) was a British diplomat who served as British Ambassador to the United States from 1912 to 1918. In this role he was responsible for leading British efforts to end American neutrality during the First World War. He is best known as the writer of the lyrics of the patriotic hymn, "I Vow to Thee, My Country". He was also a close friend of US President Theodore Roosevelt, and served as best man at his second wedding.
Spring Rice was born into an aristocratic and well-connected Anglo-Irish family. He was the son of the diplomat, Hon. Charles William Thomas Spring Rice, second son of the prominent Whig politician and former cabinet minister The 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon. Spring Rice's maternal grandfather was the politician, William Marshall, and he was a cousin of Frederick Spring. He was the great-grandson of The 1st Earl of Limerick and John Marshall. Spring Rice's father died when he was eleven, and he was brought up at his mother's family's house at Watermillock on the shore of Ullswater. He was often ill as a child and later suffered from Graves' disease, but he was active and fit.
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