Robert Sanderson McCormick
Encyclopedia
Robert Sanderson McCormick (1849–1919) was a United States
diplomat
. Born in rural Virginia
, his extended McCormick family
became influential in Chicago
.
in Rockbridge County, Virginia
.
His father was William Sanderson McCormick
(1815–1865) and mother was Mary Ann Grigsby (1828–1878) of the Hickory Hill
estate.
As an infant, the family moved to Chicago
to join the family agricultural machinery business which became International Harvester
. He attended prep school at the University of Chicago
and then the University of Virginia
.
On June 8, 1876, he married Katherine van Etta "Kate" Medill (1853–1932). She was daughter of Joseph Medill
(1823–1899) who owned and managed the Chicago Tribune
newspaper.
They had three children:
He formed a parternship, McCormick & Adams, with his cousin Hugh Leander Adams to invest in a grain elevator
at St. Louis, Missouri
in 1876, but it failed in the aftermath of the panic of 1873
.
McCormick was Second Secretary of the American Legation in London
from 1889 to 1892, under Minister Robert Todd Lincoln
. That led to his appointment as official representative for the Chicago
1893 Exhibition
.
His diplomatic career took off when President
William McKinley
appointed him as minister
to Austria-Hungary
on March 7, 1901. McCormick presented his credentials on April 29, 1901, and was promoted to be the first American ambassador to Austria-Hungary on May 27, 1902. However, he was recalled on December 29, 1902. Following this, he served as United States ambassador to Imperial Russia to 1905.
In 1905 he replaced Horace Porter
as amassador to France
.
He retired in 1907 as he health started to decline. He was replaced by Henry White
.
Nicholas II of Russia
conferred on him the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
, in recognition of his services to Russia during the war with Japan. Also the Japanese decorated him with the first class of the Order of the Rising Sun
, for his attention to Japan's interest during the Russo-Japanese War
. He was credited with negotiating with Russia to allow Jews to emigrate using US passports, as suggested by Chicago Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch.
The French government conferred on him the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honor, for furthering the relations between France and the United States. He died on April 16, 1919 from pneumonia
at his home in Hinsdale, Illinois
.
He was buried in Graceland Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. Born in rural Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, his extended McCormick family
McCormick family
The McCormick family is a family of business people and politicians from the United States.They descend from Robert McCormick and Mary Ann Hall.Below is a list of members:...
became influential in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Life
Robert Sanderson McCormick was born July 26, 1849 on the family estate known as Walnut GroveCyrus McCormick Farm
The Cyrus McCormick Farm and Workshop is on the family farm of inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick known as Walnut Grove. Cyrus Hall McCormick improved and patented the mechanical reaper, which eventually led to the creation of the combine harvester...
in Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
.
His father was William Sanderson McCormick
William Sanderson McCormick
William Sanderson McCormick was an American businessman who developed the company that became the major producer of agricultural equipment in the 19th century...
(1815–1865) and mother was Mary Ann Grigsby (1828–1878) of the Hickory Hill
Hickory Hill (Glasgow, Virginia)
Hickory Hill is a historic estate in Rockbridge County, Virginia.The main house at Hickory Hill was built from 1823 to 1824 for Reuben Grigsby who was born June 6, 1780.He was one of many children, cousin to educator Hugh Blair Grigsby ....
estate.
As an infant, the family moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to join the family agricultural machinery business which became International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
. He attended prep school at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and then the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
On June 8, 1876, he married Katherine van Etta "Kate" Medill (1853–1932). She was daughter of Joseph Medill
Joseph Medill
Joseph Medill was an American newspaper editor and publisher, and politician. He was co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, and was Mayor of Chicago.-Biography:...
(1823–1899) who owned and managed the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
newspaper.
They had three children:
- Joseph Medill McCormickJoseph M. McCormickJoseph Medill McCormick , known as Medill, was part of the McCormick family of businessmen and politicians in Chicago...
was born May 16, 1877. - Katrina McCormick was born January 17, 1879 and died that year on July 6.
- Robert Rutherford McCormickRobert R. McCormickRobert Rutherford "Colonel" McCormick was a member of the McCormick family of Chicago who became owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune newspaper...
was born July 30, 1880.
He formed a parternship, McCormick & Adams, with his cousin Hugh Leander Adams to invest in a grain elevator
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
at St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1876, but it failed in the aftermath of the panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
.
McCormick was Second Secretary of the American Legation in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1889 to 1892, under Minister Robert Todd Lincoln
Robert Todd Lincoln
Robert Todd Lincoln was an American lawyer and Secretary of War, and the first son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln...
. That led to his appointment as official representative for the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
1893 Exhibition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
.
His diplomatic career took off when President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
appointed him as minister
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
to Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
on March 7, 1901. McCormick presented his credentials on April 29, 1901, and was promoted to be the first American ambassador to Austria-Hungary on May 27, 1902. However, he was recalled on December 29, 1902. Following this, he served as United States ambassador to Imperial Russia to 1905.
In 1905 he replaced Horace Porter
Horace Porter
Horace Porter, was an American soldier and diplomat who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
as amassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He retired in 1907 as he health started to decline. He was replaced by Henry White
Henry White (diplomat)
Henry White was a prominent U.S. diplomat during the 1890s and 1900s, and one of the signers of the Treaty of Versailles....
.
Awards
In 1907, EmperorTsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
conferred on him the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
The Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire.-History:The introduction of the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was planned by Emperor Peter I of Russia...
, in recognition of his services to Russia during the war with Japan. Also the Japanese decorated him with the first class of the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, for his attention to Japan's interest during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
. He was credited with negotiating with Russia to allow Jews to emigrate using US passports, as suggested by Chicago Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch.
The French government conferred on him the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honor, for furthering the relations between France and the United States. He died on April 16, 1919 from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his home in Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
.
He was buried in Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
.