The Earl Cowley | |
|---|---|
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| British Ambassador to France | |
| In office 1852–1867 | |
| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Preceded by | The Marquess of Normanby |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Lyons |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 June 1804 Hertford Street,Mayfair, London |
| Died | 15 July 1884(1884-07-15) (aged 80) Albemarle Street, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Olivia Cecilia FitzGerald (d. 1885) |
| Alma mater | Brasenose College, Oxford |
Henry Richard Charles Wellesley, 1st Earl Cowley (17 June 1804 – 15 July 1884), known asThe Lord Cowley between 1847 and 1857, was a British diplomat. He served asBritish Ambassador to France between 1852 and 1867.
Wellesley was born in 1804 inCheshunt, Hertfordshire, the eldest son ofHenry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley, and LadyCharlotte, daughter ofCharles Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan. He was a nephew of the1st Duke of Wellington and the1st Marquess Wellesley. He was educated atEton andBrasenose College, Oxford.[citation needed]
Wellesley entered the diplomatic service in 1824, receiving his first important appointment in 1845, when he became Minister Plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire.[1] This was followed in June 1851 by his appointment as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the reinstated diet of theGerman Confederation, a position which he only held for a short time, as he was chosen in 1852 to succeedLord Normanby as the British ambassador in Paris. Lord Cowley, as Wellesley had become on his father's death in 1847, held this important post for fifteen years, and the story of his diplomatic life in Paris cannot be separated from the general history of England and France. As Minister during the greater part of the reign ofNapoleon III, he conducted the delicate negotiations between the two countries during the time of those eastern complications which preceded and followed theCrimean War, and also during the excitement and unrest produced by the attempt made in 1858 byFelice Orsini to assassinate the emperor of the French; while his diplomatic skill was no less in evidence during thewar between France andAustria and the subsequent course of events inItaly.
In 1857 he was createdViscount Dangan, in the County of Meath, andEarl Cowley. He was further honoured in 1866 when he was made aKnight of the Garter. Having assistedRichard Cobden to conclude the commercial treaty between Great Britain and France in 1860, he retired as ambassador in 1867.
On 22 October 1833 Lord Cowley married the Hon. Olivia Cecilia (d. 1885) atSt George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, daughter of the20th Baroness de Ros andLord Henry FitzGerald (fourth son of the1st Duke of Leinster). Together, they were the parents of three sons and two daughters:
Lord Cowley died on 15 July 1884 at Albemarle Street, London. He succeeded in his titles by his eldest son,William. In 1863 Cowley inherited the former Long family estate ofDraycot Cerne inWiltshire from his kinsman the5th Earl of Mornington, and he retired four years later. Through his youngest son, he was a grandfather ofSir Victor Wellesley.
He owned almost 6,000 acres.[3]
{{isbn}}: ignored ISBN errors (link)| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister Plenipotentiary to the Confederated States of the Swiss Cantons 1848–1851 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the German Confederation (Special Ambassador 1848–1851) 1848–1852 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | British Ambassador to France 1852 – 1867 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Earl Cowley 1857–1884 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Baron Cowley 1847–1884 | |
