Canning, Stratford, Viscount Stratford

Canning, Stratford, Viscount Stratford (of Redcliffe)

(born Nov. 4, 1786, London, Eng.—died Aug. 14, 1880, Frant, Sussex) British diplomat. A cousin of George Canning, he served as minister to Switzerland (1814–18) and later to the U.S. (1820–23). As ambassador to Constantinople intermittently for almost 20 years, he exerted a strong influence on Turkish policy. He was involved with the movement for Greek independence from Turkey. He later became friends with the Ottoman sultan and encouraged the Tanzimat program of reforms. He supported Turkish resistance to Russian attempts to influence Ottoman affairs and tried in vain to prevent the Crimean War. He retired after leaving Turkey in 1858.