Sir Francis Oswald Lindley (12 June 1872 – 17 August 1950) was a British diplomat who was HM Consul-General in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
in 1919, British High Commissioner in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
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1919–1920,
Ambassador to Austria 1920–1921,
Ambassador to Greece 1922–1923, Minister in
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
1923–1929,
Ambassador to Portugal 1929–1931, and finally
Ambassador to Japan 1931–1934. Lindley was described as "a rather tough old character in some respects and very outspoken in his likes and dislikes."
Early life
Lindley was born on 12 June 1872 at The Lodge,
East Carleton
East Carleton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is located east of nearby Wymondham and south-west of Norwich.
History
East Carleton's name is of Anglo-Saxon and Viking origin and derives from an amal ...
,
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
in the county of
Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
.
He was the fourth son of nine children born to
Nathaniel Lindley, Baron Lindley
Nathaniel Lindley, Baron Lindley, (29 November 1828 – 9 December 1921) was an English judge.
Early life
He was the second son of the botanist Dr. John Lindley, born at Acton Green, London. From his mother's side, he was descended from Sir Edw ...
, an English judge who served as
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and Head of Civil Justice. As a judge, the Master of ...
and
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (and namesake of
Mount Lindley in Antarctica), and Sarah Katharine Teale, daughter of Edward John Teale of Leeds.
His paternal grandparents were
John Lindley, a botanist and
orchidologist, and Sarah (
née Freestone) Lindley, a descendant of Sir
Edward Coke.
He was educated at
Winchester College
Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of ...
and
Magdalen College, Oxford.
[ Peerage](_blank)
/ref>['Lindley, Rt Hon. Sir Francis (Oswald)' in '']Who Was Who
''Who's Who'' is a reference work. It is a book, and also a CD-ROM and a website, giving information on influential people from around the world. Published annually as a book since 1849, it lists people who influence British life, according to i ...
'' (A. & C. Black)
Career
Lindley became an Attaché in 1896 and a Clerk at the Foreign Office in 1897. He was appointed Acting Third Secretary in Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
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in 1899, and served in Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
from 1900 to 1901. Promoted Second Secretary
Diplomatic rank is a system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the order of precedence at official processions, table seating ...
in the Diplomatic Service in October 1902, before serving the Egyptian Government from 1902 to 1904, he was next in HM Agency in Cairo
Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the Capital city, capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, List of ...
for two years, then in Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
from 1906 to 1908, returning to London for a home posting in the Foreign Office, 1908–1909.
He was promoted First Secretary in the Diplomatic Service in 1909 and served in Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
, 1909–1911, Christiania, 1912, and as Counsellor of the British Embassy at Petrograd, 1915.[ More senior postings came after the Great War. Lindley was appointed H.M. Commissioner in ]Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
in June 1918 and H.M. Consul-General there in 1919, where "he earned the respect of the Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
."
Lindley served as High Commissioner in Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
from 1919 to 1920. He succeeded Sir Maurice de Bunsen as the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria, serving between 1920 and 1921, and then succeeded Granville Leveson-Gower, 3rd Earl Granville as the Ambassador to Greece between 1921 and 1922, until a break in diplomatic relations
Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...
in 1922.
Beginning in 1923, he succeeded Sir Mansfeldt Findlay
Sir Mansfeldt de Cardonnel Findlay (7 April 1861 – 31 December 1932) was a British diplomat who had the difficult task of envoy to Norway during World War I.
Career
Findlay was educated at Harrow School and joined the Diplomatic Service as a ...
as the Minister to Norway in Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
. In 1929, he succeeded Sir Colville Barclay as the Ambassador to Portugal, serving until 1931. His final diplomatic post was as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan from 1931 to 1934 during the reign of Emperor Hirohito.[ While in Japan, he did not live in the Ambassador's residence, which was still being reconstructed after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, but at the embassy house in Chuzenji.]
Lindley had his final audience as Ambassador with George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...
on 2 June 1934.
Later life
From 1935 to 1949, he was the chairman of the Council of the Japan Society of London. In retirement, Lindley lived at The Weir House, Alresford, Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English cities on its south coast, Southampton and Portsmouth, Hampshire ...
, and in 1934 was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county. He belonged to the Turf Club and Brooks's
Brooks's is a gentlemen's club in St James's Street, London. It is one of the oldest and most exclusive gentlemen's clubs in the world.
History
In January 1762, a private society was established at 50 Pall Mall by Messrs. Boothby and James ...
. He was an official Verderer
Verderers are forestry officials in England who deal with common land in certain former royal hunting areas which are the property of the Crown. The office was developed in the Middle Ages to administer forest law on behalf of the King. Verderer ...
of the New Forest from 1943.[
In 1947, he published an autobiography entitled ''A Diplomat Off Duty''.]
Personal life
In 1903, Lindley married Etheldreda Mary Fraser (1872–1949), third daughter of Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat
Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat and 2nd Baron Lovat (21 December 1828 – 6 September 1887) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. He was responsible for overseeing the reconstruction of Beaufort Castle, and was the 22nd Chief of Clan Fraser of Lov ...
. Her elder brother was Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat
Major-General Simon Joseph Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat and 3rd Baron Lovat, (25 November 1871 – 18 February 1933), was a leading Roman Catholic aristocrat, landowner, forester, soldier, politician and the 23rd Chief of Clan Fraser. While l ...
and among her younger siblings was Alastair Thomas Joseph Fraser (who married Lady Sybil Grimston, daughter of James Grimston, 3rd Earl of Verulam
James Walter Grimston, 3rd Earl of Verulam (11 May 1852 – 11 November 1924), known as Viscount Grimston from 1852 to 1895, was a British Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1892. He inherited his peerage in ...
) and Margaret May Fraser (who married Brig-Gen Archibald Stirling, son of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet MP KT, of Pollok FRSE DCL LLD (8 March 181815 January 1878), was a Scottish historical writer, art historian and politician.
Until 1865 he was known as William Stirling, and several of his books we ...
). They had four daughters, all of whom had prominent marriages:[
* Brigid Mary Lindley (d. 1971), who married ]Sir John McEwen, 1st Baronet
Sir John Helias Finnie McEwen, 1st Baronet (21 June 1894 – 19 April 1962), also known as Jock McEwen, was a British Unionist politician who served in the House of Commons as Conservative Member of Parliament for Berwick and Haddington from ...
(1894–1962).
* Sarah Katharine Lindley (d. 1965), who married Philip Yorke, 9th Earl of Hardwicke
Earl of Hardwicke is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1754 for Philip Yorke, 1st Baron Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain from 1737 to 1756. He had already been created Baron Hardwicke, of Hardwicke in ...
(1906–1974).
* Alice Elizabeth Lindley (1905–1995), who married Sir Oscar Morland (1904–1980), the British Ambassador in Japan and Indonesia, in 1932.
* Mary Etheldreda Lindley (1911–2009), who married Sir William Johnstone Keswick (1903–1990), son of politician and businessman Henry Keswick of the prominent Hong Kong based Keswick family
The Keswick family (pronounced with a silent "w", "Kezzick") are a business dynasty of Scottish origin associated with the Far East region since 1855 and in particular the conglomerate Jardine Matheson.
As tai-pans of Jardine Matheson & Company, ...
.
Lindley's wife died in 1949 and he died on 17 August 1950.
Descendants
Through his daughter Brigid, he was the grandfather of seven, including:
* Sir James McEwen of Marchmont and Bardrochat, 2nd Bt. (1924–1971), who married Clare Rosemary Sandars;
* Sir Robert McEwen of Marchmont and Bardrochat, 3rd Bt. (1926–1980), who married Brigid Cecilia Laver (daughter of James Laver
James Laver, CBE, FRSA (14 March 1899 – 3 June 1975) was an English author, critic, art historian, and museum curator who acted as Keeper of Prints, Drawings and Paintings for the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1938 and 1959. He was al ...
and Veronica Turleigh);
* Christian Mary McEwen
Christian Mary McEwen, Dowager Lady Hesketh, OBE, DL (17 July 1929, Marchmont House, Greenlaw, Berwickshire, Scotland – 7 April 2006, London) was a British politician, journalist and educationist.
Early life
Christian McEwen was born on 17 ...
(1929–2006), who married Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh
Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh DL (8 April 1916 – 10 June 1955), was a British peer and soldier.
Background and education
Hesketh was the son of Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh, and Florence Louise Breckinridge, of Kentuck ...
;
* Roderick McEwen (1932–1982), a folk singer who married Romana von Hofmannsthal (daughter of Ava Alice Muriel Astor
Ava Alice Muriel Astor (July 7, 1902 – July 19, 1956) was an American heiress, socialite, and member of the Astor family. She was the daughter of John Jacob Astor IV and Ava Lowle Willing, and sister of Vincent Astor and half-sister of John J ...
);
* Alexander Dundas McEwen (1935–2008), a musician who married Cecilia Gräfin von Weikersheim;
* David Fraser McEwen (1938–1976);
* John Sebastian McEwen (b. 1942).
Through his daughter Mary he was the grandfather of:
* Sir Henry Keswick (b. 1938), one of Britain's richest men who married Annabel Thérèse "Tessa" Fraser, Lady Reay (a daughter of war hero Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat
Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, 4th Baron Lovat, (9 July 1911 – 16 March 1995) was a prominent British Commando during the Second World War and the 25th Chief of the Clan Fraser of Lovat. Known familiarly as Shim ...
and the former wife of Hugh Mackay, 14th Lord Reay
Hugh William Mackay, 14th Lord Reay, Baron Mackay (19 July 1937 – 10 May 2013), was a British politician and Conservative member of the House of Lords. He was the only male Lord of Parliament to sit in the House of Lords following the abol ...
);
* Sir John Chippendale Keswick (b. 1940), who married Lady Sarah Ramsay, a daughter of Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie
Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie, (17 October 1914 – 15 July 1999), styled The Honourable Simon Ramsay between 1928 and 1950, was a British land owner, Scottish Unionist Party politician and colonial governor.
Background and education
R ...
;
* Simon Keswick (b. 1942), who married Emma Bridget Chetwode, a daughter of Maj. George David Chetwode.
Both Sir Henry and Sir Chips served as chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (also known as Jardines) is a Hong Kong-based Bermuda-domiciled British multinational conglomerate. It has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and secondary listings on the Singapore Exchange and ...
.
Through his daughter Sarah, he was the grandfather of:
* Lady Amabel Yorke (b. 1935), wife of Hon. Patrick Lindsay (son of David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford);
* Philip Yorke, Viscount Royston (1938–1973), father of Joseph Yorke, 10th Earl of Hardwicke;
* Lady Victoria Yorke (1947–2004), who married Nigel Waymouth
Nigel Waymouth (born 1941) is a designer and artist, a co-partner in the boutique, Granny Takes a Trip, and one of the two-man team, Hapshash and the Coloured Coat, which designed psychedelic posters in the 1960s. He has since had a solo career, i ...
(parents of writer Louis Waymouth);
* Lady Rose Yorke (b. 1951), who married three times.
Publications
* ''A Diplomat off Duty'', Ernest Benn Limited, London, 1928 (second edition 1947)
* ''Lord Lovat: a biography'', Hutchinson & Co. Ltd, London, 1935
* ''The tragedy of Spain'', Loxley Brothers Ltd, London, 1937 (reprinted from the National Review
''National Review'' is an American conservative editorial magazine, focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by the author William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Its editor-in-chief ...
, February 1937)
Combined English Universities
1937 Combined English Universities by-election
Honours
* Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(CBE), 1917
* Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), 1919
* Knight Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), 1926
* Privy Counsellor
The Privy Council (PC), officially His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the sovereign of the United Kingdom. Its membership mainly comprises senior politicians who are current or former members of ei ...
(PC), 1929
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III.
It is named in honour ...
(GCMG), 1931
References
External links
Chronology of U.K. Heads of Mission in Japan
Sir Francis Oswald Lindley (1872-1950), Diplomat
at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Francis Lindley papers
at the University of Leeds
, mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased
, established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds
, ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindley, Francis Oswald
1872 births
1950 deaths
People educated at Winchester College
Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Austria
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Greece
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Norway
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Portugal
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Japan
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Conservative Party (UK) parliamentary candidates
Sons of life peers