Stratford Canning

The Right Honourable The Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe KG GCB PC
Lord Stratford de Redcliffe in 1814, aged 29.
British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
In office 1825–1828
Monarch	George IV
Preceded by	The Viscount Strangford
Succeeded by	Sir Robert Gordon
In office 1841–1858
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Preceded by	Sir John Ponsonby
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Bulwer
Personal details
Born	4 November 1786
Died	14 August 1880(1880-08-14) (aged 93)
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	(1) Harriet Raikes (d. 1817) (2) Eliza Charlotte Alexander (1805–1882)
Alma mater	King's College, Cambridge

Stratford Canning, 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe KG GCB PC (4 November 1786 – 14 August 1880), was a British diplomat and politician, best known as the longtime British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. A descendant of the historic Stratford Family and cousin of George Canning, he was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister-Plenipotentiary to the United States between 1820 and 1824 and held his first appointment as Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire between 1825 and 1828. He intermittently represented several constituencies in parliament between 1828 and 1842. In 1841 he was re-appointed Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, a position he held for the next 17 years. Canning came to be seen as one of the leading figures in Constantinople, as British influence over the Porte increased and the Turks came to be seen more and more as British clients. In 1852 he was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, probably in reference to his supposed descent from the great 15th century merchant family of Canynges of Redcliffe near Bristol. However, despite his illustrious diplomatic career Canning's hopes of high political office were frequently dashed.

Canning was the youngest of the five children of Stratford Canning (1744–1787), an Irish-born merchant based in London, by his wife Mehitabel, daughter of Robert Patrick. He was born at his father's house of business in St. Clement's Lane, in the heart of London. When he was 6 months old Canning's father died in 1787 so his mother and siblings went to live in a cottage at Wanstead, where he would holiday for the rest of his life. Mehitabel Canning continued her husbands business until her eldest son could take her place. His eldest brother Henry Canning became British Consul in Hamburg in 1823, a posting he retained for the rest of his life. Henry Canning would die at Hamburg in 1841. Another brother, William Canning (1778-1860) was a Canon of Windsor from 1828 to 1860, while another brother, Charles Fox Canning (1784–1815), was at the time of his death a lieutenant colonel to the Guards, Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. He was also a first cousin of prime minister George Canning and Lord Garvagh. He was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. Canning Stratford began his education at a Dame's school at the age of four. At the age of 6 he left to attend Mr. Newcome's school at Hackney.