Robert Morier
|
The Right Honourable Sir Robert Morier GCB GCMG |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| British Ambassador to Russia | |
|
In office 1884–1893 |
|
| Preceded by | Sir Edward Thornton |
| Succeeded by | Sir Frank Lascelles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 March 1826 Paris, France |
| Died | 16 November 1893 (aged 67) Montreux, Switzerland |
| Nationality | British |
| Relations | David Richard Morier (father) |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Religion | Church of England |
Sir Robert Burnett David Morier GCB GCMG PC (31 March 1826 – 16 November 1893) was a British diplomat, who most notably served as the British Ambassador to Russia between 1884 and 1893.
Born in Paris, Morier was descended from a family of diplomats of Huguenot origin, including his father David Richard Morier and his uncle James Justinian Morier. After private education he came up to Balliol College, Oxford. Here he attracted the notice of Benjamin Jowett, who became a friend.
On leaving Oxford, Morier at first obtained an appointment in the Education Department, but resigned in 1852, and in the following year became attaché at Vienna. In the succeeding years he was attached in turn to almost every court in Germany. Restless in temperament and unconventional in method, he plunged into the vortex of German politics to a degree that did not always accord with the traditions of diplomacy.
The most important years of his career in Germany were from 1866 to 1871, when he was secretary of legation at Darmstadt. Here he became a trusted adviser of the crown princess, and through her acquired an intimate friendship with the crown prince (afterwards the emperor Frederick III), whose antagonism to Bismarck's reactionary policy met with cordial support from Morier's sturdy Liberalism. Bismarck, already jealous of British influence at court, honored Morier with a hatred not lessened by the fact that Morier's knowledge of German politics was unrivalled outside Germany. On leaving Darmstadt, Morier became chargé d'affaires, first at Stuttgart, and then at Munich, and in 1876 was appointed minister at Lisbon. From 1881 to 1884 he was minister at Madrid. In December 1884 he became ambassador at St. Petersburg, and almost immediately had to face the alarming situation created by the Russian advance to Penjdeh. Thanks to his efforts, a war that at one moment seemed inevitable was averted. His great popularity at the Russian court contributed towards a marked improvement in the relations between the two countries.
...
Wikipedia