Sir Ronald William Graham (24 July 1870 – 26 January 1949) was a British diplomat and the
British Ambassador to Italy from 1921 to 1933.
Early life
Graham was born in London 24 July 1870 the eldest son of Sir
Henry John Lowndes Graham
Sir Henry John Lowndes Graham, (15 January 1842 – 5 December 1930) was a Scottish public servant, Clerk of the Parliaments from 1885 to 1917. and was educated at
Eton College
Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...
.
Diplomatic service
In 1892 Graham joined the
British Diplomatic Service
His Majesty's Diplomatic Service (HMDS) is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, dealing with foreign affairs and representing British interests overseas, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which ...
with his first foreign post at Paris.
In 1902, he was promoted to first secretary and worked at the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office, before moving to Cairo as a Counsellor.
After a period as Minister at the Hague, he was sworn into
Privy Council in 1921 and appointed Ambassador to Italy.
He was the British representative during the
Fascist Revolution of 1922 when
Benito Mussolini came to power.
Graham retired in November 1933 and became a trustee of the British Museum from 1937.
Personal life
![Ronald William Graham](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Ronald_William_Graham.jpg)
Graham married Lady Sybil Brodrick, the daughter of the
Earl of Midleton in January 1912. Lady Sybil, who was
Maid of honour
A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts.
Role
Traditionally, a queen ...
to
Queen Mary from 1911 to 1912, was the sister of
George Brodrick, 2nd Earl of Midleton
George St John Brodrick, 2nd Earl of Midleton MC (21 February 1888 – 2 November 1979) was an English aristocrat, landowner and soldier.
Early life
He was the eldest son of five children born to St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton by his ...
.
His wife died six months after Graham retired and they had no children.
Graham died at his home in London aged 78 in 1949.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Ronald William
1870 births
1949 deaths
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Civil servants from London
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Italy
People educated at Eton College
Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Grand Officers of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus