The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-10
THE BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. Rs.
EnrI de Grey md RIpon.

Enrl de Grev and Ripon.
The President of the English branch of the
commission, George Frederick Samuel Robin
son, Earl de Grey and Ripon, was born in Lon
don in 1927, and succeeded his father as second
Earl Ripon and his uncle as second Earl de
Grey in 1859. He served as a member of the
House of Commons for Huddersfeld, and sub
sequently for the West Riding of Yorkshire,
from 1858 to 1859, when he entered the Hous e
of Lords. He was Under Secretary of War in
June, 1859; Under Secretary of State for India
from January to August, 1861; Secretary of War
from 1858 to 1866, and was appointed Lord
President of the Council in Decemb er. 1868
He is q liberal in politics.
Sir Edward Thornton,
the British Minister TO the United States, who
sits on the commission by virtue of his diplo-
matte position, is about siXty-two years of age,
and is the son of the late Sir Edward Thornton.
His diplomatic career began about 1843, when
he became an attache of the British Legation at
Turin, then the capital of the Kingdom of Sar-
dinia. In 1845 he was appointed paid attache
at Mexico, and in 1851 Secretary of Legation
to Mexico. From April, 1852, till October, 1853,
he was Secretary to the late Sir Charles Ho-
tham's special mission to the River Platte. In
May, 1854 he received the appointment of
Charge d'Atfaires and Consul-General to the
h6puuIlC vi N6W 1TGudut, Uub ulu UOI
proceed to Bogota; and in September of the
same year he was transferred to the
Oriental Republic of Uruguay. He filed that
post for five years, at the end of which period he
was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the
Argentine Republic. On the 27th of july 1866
he was sent on special mission to the Emperor
of Brazil, and on the 10th of August following
was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minis
ter Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of Brazil,
from which post he was recalled to succeed the
late Sir Frederick Bruce as Minister to the
United States. He arrived in England, on his
way TO this country, in December, 1867, and on
January 81, 1868, arrived at New York, to
assume his diplomatic duties in this country.
In February, 1868, he was made companion of
the Honorable Order of the Bath. He also
bears q Portuguese title of nobility, that of
Count of Cassilhas, to which he succeeded on
the death of his father, upon whom it was con-
ferred by King John Ii of Portugal, for three
lives, his own being one, and the others to be
accomplished in his descendants in a direct
line but the license granted by George ", per-
mitting Sir Edward to accept the title, forbids
him or his heirs assuming or using 1t in the
British dominions. Mr.. Thornton's official resi-
dence in the United States has given general
satisfaction both here and in England, and he
mas ItC6uIly elSudlLCu IL ny III last tuc
Alabama claims to a successful issue.
Sir john A, Macdonald.
Sir John A. Macdonald G. G. B., d. G. L.,
another of the British commissioners, is q pro-
minent Canadian politician He was born in
the year 1876 and receiving his education at
the Royal Grammar School in Kingston, Ca
nada studied law and was admi tied to the bar
in 1885, In November, 1874, he was elected q
member of the Upper Canadian Parliament foI
| the city of Kingston, which constituency he
continued to represent through all the different
changes in the form of government In May
1847, he was appointed a member of the Execu
| tive Council and Receiver General, and in De
cember following Commissioner of Crown
Lands. This Cabinet resigned in March, 1850
and the Reformers, under the lea adership of La
! fontaine, Hincks, and Baldwin, who succeeded
them, held the Office until September, 1854. The
| reservation of lands for the Protestant clergy
| and other vital questions caused the defeat o.
the reform ministry at this date, and Macdonald
! ioned the new coalition Cabinet as Attorney
| General. This position he held until May, 1862
portion of the time being Prime Minister.
In January 1862 he was appointed Ministe
| of Militia, but the Cabinet was defeated in 1t
Militia bill and forced to resign. In May, 1864
however, Macdonald again entered the Cabine
| as AttOrney-General, unuer inc leauersnlp U
Sir Z. P Tache, at whose death, in July, 1866
he became also Minister of Militia again. Blu
Taches Cabinet failed to command majorit
in Parliament, and another coalition was formed
the leaders of both parties, including Macdonald
uniting to mature and consummate the projec
of uniting the Canadian and maritime province
under one general government. He was az
pointed in 1866 one of the delegates to arrang
with the British Home Government the terms {
union, and on their arrival In London wa
chosen to preside over their deliberation
Macdonald, entered the Cabinet of the New d.
minion July l. 1867, as Minister of Justice an
Attorney General which position he still hold
sir John Rose.
The fourth British commissioner, Sir Joh
Rose, the Well-known Canadian politician, is
scotchman by birth. He was educated
Kings College, Aberdeen, but at an early perio
emigrated TO Canada, with whose politics he hi
r ever since been connected. In 1872 whe
: twenty-One years of age, he was called to Il
. Canadian bar He made his mark, and in 49,
was appointed Queens counsel In 19
he was appointed sollcitor-Gene of Il
Province of Lower Canada. From Augus
J 1853 TO June, 1861, he was member of Il