Stratfordde Redcliffe

Stratford de Redcliffe, STRATFORD CANNING, VISCOUNT (1786-1880), diplomatist, was the son of Stratford Canning, a London merchant, and first cousin of George Canning. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge. He became first secretary to the Embassy at Constantinople in 1808, and Minister-plenipotentiary in 1810. As Minister-plenipotentiary in Switzerland (1814-19) he took part in arranging the federation of the cantons. After a special mission to the United States (1820) he went as ambassador to Constantinople in 1825, and entered into those negotiations on behalf of Greece which culminated in the treaty of Adrianople (1829). Greek affairs again took him to Turkey in 1831. During his final residence in Constantinople, which lasted sixteen years (1842-58), he gained a complete hold over the Sultan. earning by his power the title of Great Elchi." He secured important privileges for the Christian subjects of the Porte, and was extraordinarily successful in baffling Russian intrigue. Yet he was powerless to prevent the Crimean War, although his previous policy put Russia altogether in the wrong. He was created Viscount in 1851 and K.G. in 1869. After his return to England he lived in retirement, though occasionally speaking in the House or Lords on foreign policy.