- Also called (from 1916):
- 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
- Died:
- September 7, 1933, Fallodon, near Embleton, Northumberland, England (aged 71)
- Political Affiliation:
- Liberal Party
Sir Edward Grey, 3rd Baronet
-
Who was Sir Edward Grey?
Sir Edward Grey, 3rd Baronet (1862–1933), was a significant British statesman who served as British foreign secretary for 11 years (1905–1916). This was the longest uninterrupted tenure in the office's history.
A relative of the 2nd Earl Grey, he was raised in a strong Whig-Liberal tradition and inherited his grandfather's baronetcy in 1882. As foreign secretary, Grey is known for his role during World War I. At the start of the war, he commented, "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime". He retired from office in December 1916 and was awarded a viscountcy.
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What important job did Sir Edward Grey have in the British government?
Sir Edward Grey, 3rd Baronet, served as British foreign secretary for 11 years (1905–1916). This was the longest uninterrupted tenure in the history of that office. His term was largely consumed by the start of World War I, prompting his now-famous comment: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime". He supported France against Germany during the Morocco crisis and maintained the British alliance with Japan, later concluding an agreement with Russia in 1907.
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During which major event was Sir Edward Grey the British Foreign Secretary?
Sir Edward Grey, 3rd Baronet, served as the British Foreign Secretary during World War I from 1905 to 1916, the longest uninterrupted tenure in history for that office. His time in office was marked by the start of World War I, about which he commented, "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime". When all peace moves failed after the assassination of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo, Grey accepted the war by tying British intervention to Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium rather than to Britain’s dubious alliance with France.
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How did Sir Edward Grey influence Britain’s involvement in World War I?
Sir Edward Grey, as British foreign secretary from 1905 to 1916, significantly influenced Britain's involvement in World War I. He strengthened ties with France and Russia, forming the Triple Entente, and maintained the British alliance with Japan. Grey indicated Britain would defend France against Germany during the Moroccan crisis.
When WWI began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Grey proposed Austria-Hungary seek satisfaction from Serbia without war. He then secured a divided British cabinet's support for war by linking intervention to Germany's invasion of neutral Belgium. His actions and decisions played a crucial role in shaping Britain's foreign policy and eventual entry into the war.
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What was Sir Edward Grey’s famous quote about the beginning of World War I?
Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary (1905-1916), is remembered for his observation at the start of World War I: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”. He made this comment as the war began, capturing the sense of impending darkness and the end of an era. Grey, a Liberal who served under Prime Ministers Henry Campbell-Bannerman and H.H. Asquith, played a crucial role in British foreign policy during the war's early years. His memoirs, Twenty-Five Years, 1892–1916, appeared in 1925.
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How is Sir Edward Grey remembered for his role in British history?
Sir Edward Grey, 3rd Baronet, served as British foreign secretary for 11 years (1905–1916). His tenure is remembered for the start of World War I, about which he commented, "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."
As foreign secretary, Grey supported France against Germany during the Morocco crisis. He authorized conferences between the British and French general staffs, but withheld that decision from the cabinet to avoid criticism. After Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination, Grey tried to mediate between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. When peace efforts failed, he secured British intervention in the war by citing Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium.
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Sir Edward Grey, 3rd Baronet (born April 25, 1862, London, England—died September 7, 1933, Fallodon, near Embleton, Northumberland, England) was a British statesman whose 11 years (1905–16) as British foreign secretary, the longest uninterrupted tenure of that office in history, were marked by the start of World War I, about which he made a comment that became proverbial: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
A relative of the 2nd Earl Grey, the prime minister who carried the Reform Bill of 1832, Edward Grey was reared in a strong Whig–Liberal tradition. He succeeded to his grandfather’s baronetcy and estate in 1882. From 1885 to 1916, when he was created a viscount, he sat in the House of Commons, and in 1923–24, despite increasing blindness, he led the Liberal opposition in the House of Lords. When his party divided over the South African War (1899–1902), he sided with the Liberal imperialists, led by H.H. Asquith.
On December 10, 1905, Grey began his service as foreign secretary, under the new Liberal prime minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. During the Morocco crisis (1905–06), Grey continued the policy of his predecessor, the 5th marquess of Lansdowne, supporting France against Germany, but with reservations that caused serious diplomatic confusion up to the outbreak of war in 1914. Grey allowed it to be known that, in the event of a German attack, Britain would aid France. He also authorized conferences between the British and French general staffs, but (with the Prime Minister’s permission) withheld that decision from the cabinet to avoid criticism by the more radical ministers. He maintained the British alliance with Japan and, in 1907, concluded an agreement with Russia.
When Asquith became prime minister (April 5, 1908), Grey retained his office. In the 1911 Moroccan (Agadir) crisis, he indicated that Britain would defend France against Germany, and in November 1912 he made similar statements in private correspondence with Paul Cambon, French ambassador in London. He made no objection, however, when Asquith told the House of Commons that Great Britain was in no way bound. France and Russia, nonetheless, counted on British armed assistance and dealt with Germany as if Grey had unequivocally promised it.
After the assassination of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo (June 28, 1914), Grey and the German emperor William II independently proposed that Austria-Hungary, without resorting to war, obtain satisfaction from Serbia by occupying Belgrade, which the Serbian government had abandoned. When all peace moves failed, Grey won over a divided cabinet to accept the war by tying British intervention to Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium rather than to Britain’s dubious alliance with France. He was responsible for the secret Treaty of London (April 26, 1915), by which Italy joined Great Britain and her allies, and tried to solicit U.S. support for the Allied cause.
On December 5, 1916, Grey retired from office along with Asquith, and he was awarded a viscountcy. In 1919 he was sent on a special mission to the United States in a futile attempt to secure U.S. entry into the League of Nations. His memoirs, Twenty-five Years, 1892–1916, appeared in 1925.