Robert Sanderson McCormick
Photograph of McCormick,c. 1896
United States Ambassador toFrance
In office May 2, 1905 – March 2, 1907
President	Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Horace Porter
Succeeded by	Henry White
United States Ambassador toRussia
In office January 12, 1903 – March 27, 1905
President	Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Charlemagne Tower, Jr.
Succeeded by	George von Lengerke Meyer
1stUnited States Ambassador toAustria
In office June 26, 1902 – December 29, 1902
President	Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Himself (as Minister)
Succeeded by	Bellamy Storer
United States Minister to Austria
In office April 29, 1901 – June 26, 1902
President	William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Addison Clay Harris
Succeeded by	Himself (as Ambassador)
Personal details
Born	(1849-07-26)July 26, 1849 Rockbridge County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	April 16, 1919(1919-04-16) (aged 69) Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S.
Spouse	Katherine Medill ​ (m. 1876)​
Children	Joseph M. McCormick Katrina McCormick Robert R. McCormick
Parent(s)	William Sanderson McCormick Mary Ann Grigsby
Relatives	SeeMcCormick family
Education	University of Chicago
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Occupation	Diplomat

Robert Sanderson McCormick (July 26, 1849 – April 16, 1919) was an American diplomat. Born in ruralVirginia, he was part of the extendedMcCormick family that became influential inChicago.

McCormick was born July 26, 1849, on the family plantation known asWalnut Grove inRockbridge County, Virginia.^[1] His father wasWilliam Sanderson McCormick (1815–1865) and his mother was Mary Ann (née Grigsby) McCormick (1828–1878), whose family owned theHickory Hill plantation.

When Robert was an infant, his family moved toChicago to join the McCormick family agricultural machinery business, which in 1902 merged intoInternational Harvester. He attended prep school at theUniversity of Chicago and went to college at theUniversity of Virginia.

McCormick formed a partnership with his paternal cousin Hugh Leander Adams,^[2] which they named McCormick & Adams, to invest in agrain elevator atSt. Louis, Missouri, in 1876. In the continuing national economic troubles in the aftermath of thepanic of 1873, the enterprise failed.^[3]: 39

Politically active and a major donor to theRepublican Party, in 1889 McCormick was appointed as Second Secretary of the American Legation in London, where he served from 1889 to 1892, under MinisterRobert Todd Lincoln, eldest son of the late President Abraham Lincoln.^[4] That led to his appointment as official representative for the ChicagoWorld's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

His diplomatic career took off when PresidentWilliam McKinley appointed him asU.S. Minister toAustria-Hungary on March 7, 1901. McCormick presented his credentials on April 29, 1901, and served through McKinley's assassination at thePan-American Exposition on September 14, 1901. McCormick continued in the role during Theodore Roosevelt's term and when the relationship between the two countries was upgraded, he was promoted, becoming the first American ambassador to Austria-Hungary on May 27, 1902, and served in that role until December 29, 1902.^[5]

On September 26, 1902, Roosevelt appointed him toSt. Petersburg to serve as United States Ambassador toImperial Russia.^[6] He was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned on December 8, 1902, after confirmation. McCormick presented his credentials on January 12, 1903, and was present in St Petersburg during theBloody Sunday protests of that year. After reaching appointment asU.S. Ambassador to France on March 8, 1905, he presented his recall on March 27, 1905.

He presented his credentials in Paris on May 2, 1905, and replacedHorace Porter.^[7] McCormick served for almost two years, retiring from the diplomatic services in 1907 when his health started to decline. He presented his recall on March 2, 1907, and was replaced byHenry White, who had been theAmbassador to Italy.^[7]

On June 8, 1876, he married Katherine van Etta "Kate" Medill (1853–1932). She was a daughter ofJoseph Medill (1823–1899), who owned and managed theChicago Tribune newspaper, and his wife. Together, the McCormicks were the parents of three children:^[1]

• Joseph Medill McCormick (1877–1925), who was elected as a U.S. Senator from Illinois. He marriedRuth Hanna, daughter of US SenatorMark Hanna (D-OH).
• Katrina McCormick (1879–1879), who died in infancy.
• Robert Rutherford McCormick (1880–1955), who became the influential editor of theChicago Tribune.

McCormick died frompneumonia on April 16, 1919, at his home inHinsdale, Illinois.^[4] He was buried inGraceland Cemetery.

• In 1907,EmperorNicholas II of Russia conferred on him theOrder of St. Alexander Nevsky, in recognition of his services to Russia during the war with Japan.
• The Japanese decorated him with the first class of theOrder of the Rising Sun, for his attention to Japan's interest during theRusso-Japanese War. He was credited with negotiating with Russia to allow Jews to emigrate using US passports, as suggested by Chicago RabbiEmil G. Hirsch.^[4]
• The French government conferred on him theGrand Cordon of the Legion of Honor, for furthering the relations between France and the United States.

• 1849 births
• 1919 deaths
• Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago)
• McCormick family
• Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun
• Politicians from Chicago
• People from Rockbridge County, Virginia
• Ambassadors of the United States to Austria-Hungary
• Ambassadors of the United States to France
• Ambassadors of the United States to Russia
• Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
• Illinois Republicans
• University of Chicago alumni
• University of Virginia alumni
• Deaths from pneumonia in Illinois

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