Robert Liston (diplomat)

For the pioneering Scottish surgeon, see Robert Liston.
Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Liston

Sir Robert Liston, GCB, PC (8 October 1742 – 15 July 1836)[1][2] was a British diplomat and ambassador to several countries.

Biography

Liston was born in Kirkliston, Scotland, went up to Edinburgh University, and then tutored the sons of the Earl of Minto.[3] Said to be able to speak ten languages,[1] Liston joined the diplomatic service and enjoyed a career spanning Europe appointed on 22 September 1793, eventually arriving at Constantinople on 19 May 1794. He hated it there and left on 4 November 1795.

In a promotion he was posted to the United States.[3] In 1796 he married the heiress Henrietta Marchant of Antigua. Henrietta's charm and social tact were a great asset to her husband; she also kept an interesting diary in which she records favourable impressions of George Washington and John Adams,[4] and an unfavourable impression of Talleyrand. Robert was also on excellent terms with Washington, though relations cooled somewhat after Adams' election.

On 26 March 1812 he was sworn a Privy Councillor, and on 21 October 1816, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Bath.[2] Liston's wife died in 1828 and he died in 1836.[2] He had no children.[2]

Timeline of career

Listonhill, Robert Liston's residence in Stockholm.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sir David Wilkie: Sir Robert Liston, 1742 - 1836". National Galleries of Scotland. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Urban, Sylvanus (1837). "The Gentleman's Magazine". 6 (161). London: F. Jefferies: 539. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  3. 1 2 Taylor, Clare. Simmons, Richard, ed. "The Liston Papers, 1796-1800" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  4. ↑ McCullough, David. John Adams Simon and Schuster New York 2001
  5. ↑ "St. James's, March 12". The London Gazette. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
George Hammond		 British Minister to the United States
1796 – 1800 		Succeeded by
Anthony Merry
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.