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

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.