Lansdowne, Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th marquess of

born Jan. 14, 1845, London, Eng.

died June 3, 1927, Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ire.

Irish nobleman and British diplomat.

He inherited his father's title and wealth in 1866 and served in William E. Gladstone's Liberal administration. In 1885, as governor-general of Canada (1883–88), he helped settle the rebellion led by Louis Riel. As viceroy of India (1888–94) under a Conservative government, he reorganized the police, reconstituted legislative councils, closed Indian mints to the free coinage of silver, and extended railway and irrigation works. As secretary of war (1895–1900), he was blamed for British unpreparedness in the South African War. As foreign secretary (1900–06), he concluded the Entente Cordiale.

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▪ British diplomat

also called  (until 1866) Viscount Clanmaurice  

born Jan. 14, 1845, London

died June 3, 1927, Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ire.

      Irish nobleman and British diplomat who served as viceroy of Canada and of India, secretary for war, and foreign secretary.

      The eldest son of the 4th Marquess, he attended Eton and on the death of his father succeeded, at age 21, to the marquessate and great lands and wealth. Joining the Liberal Party he was a lord of the Treasury (1868) and under secretary for war (1872–74) and for India (1880). As governor general of Canada (1883–88) he effected an agreement with rebelling Indians and used his French language ability to facilitate acceptance.

      Conservative Prime Minister Salisbury appointed him viceroy of India, and his administration (1888–94) was marked by peace except for a short rising in the independent state of Manipur, for which the leader Tikendrajit was executed. Lansdowne founded an imperial library and record office, abolished the presidential army system, closed Indian mints to the free coinage of silver, reorganized the police, reconstituted legislative councils, gave council members rights of financial discussion and interpolation, and extended railway and irrigation works. The independent kingdom of Sikkim was brought under British protection in 1888 and its boundary with Tibet demarcated; Hunza and Nagar on the Afghan frontier were annexed in 1892.

      Lansdowne became secretary of state for war in 1895, and charges of unpreparedness for the South African War brought demands for his impeachment in 1899. After the 1900 elections the Conservative government remodelling brought him in as foreign secretary (1900–06) amid protests. In 1906–10 he was leader of the minority Conservative opposition in the House of Lords and deplored the disparity of parties there. He was minister without portfolio (1915–16) in Asquith's government. His controversial published “Lansdowne Letter” (1917), calling for a statement of intentions from World War I Allies, was criticized as contrary to public policy.

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