The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-12-20
WHHELAW REID
DIES IN LONDON
Ambassador to Court of Great
Britain Succumbs to Asthma.
BEEN FAILING FOR YEAR
Break Down Dates From Last Win
ter, When He Entertained Duke
of Connaught In New York
City.

London, Dec. 16.-Whitelaw Reid,
United States ambassador to Great
Britain since 1905, died Sunday after
noon at Dorchester house. his London
residence, Of pulmonary oedema. Mr..
Reid was in his seventy sixth year and
the end was quiet and peaceful
Only his wife and daughter, Hon.
Mrs. John Hubert Ward, were at his
bedside when the end came. His son,
Ogden Mills Reid, sailed from New
York Saturday on the KronprinZessln
Cecelie, the ambassadors family not
realizing the seriousness of Mr.. Reid
condition until Friday, when they
cabled Ogden to sail Immediately Tor
England
Ambassador Reds breakdown dates
from his trip to New York last winter
to entertain the duke and duchess OF
Connaught, who came from Ottawa TO
be the ambassadors guests at his
town house in New York
Washington, Dec. 1 News Of the
death in London of Ambassador Reid
came as a shock to official Washing
ton, for it had not been generally real
lied Mr.. Reds illness was of serious
nature
President Taft paid an unusual trlb-
ute to the late ambassador and eX-
pressed his grief in a cable reply to a
message of sorrow from King George
of Great Britain. The president also
sent his sympathy to Mrs. Reid.
Through his own personality, Mr.. Reid,
the president said, had drawn America
and Great Britain in closer friendship.
Whitelaw Reid was born near Xenla,
o., Oct. Of. 1897. The town was found
ed by his paternal grandfather, Scot
fish Covenanter, and his mother was
Marian Whitelaw Ronalds Of ancient
Scottish descent His early education
was received from the teaching of the
Rev. Hugh Mcmillan, an uncle, who
was principal of the academy OF
Xenia and one of the trustees Of
Miami university Mr.. Reid was grad
uated with class honors from Miami
In 1856.
At the age of 20 years he took up
Journalism He became editor and pro-
prietor Of the Xenia News, and speed
lily made his power felt as strong
factor in the Republican party. He
chose Horace Greeley as his guide in
newspaper work and modelled his
sheet after the New York Tribune.
In 1881 he married the daughter OF
D. o. Mills. During his early married
life he published several books on
journalism and politics.
In 1889 he accepted from President
Harrison the mission to France. In
1892 he was nominated for vice presi-
dent and was defeated. and resumed
directing control of his paper.
Mr.. Reds missions 10 England as
the special ambassador of the United
States at Queen Victoria's jubilee and
the. kings coronation, furnished an i'm
portant addition to his qualifications
for the resident mbassadorship,
which he assumed in 1905. After re-
ceiving his appointment he relinquish-
ed the active direction of his paper
and for the last seven years had de-
voted all his time to his office.
Washington, Lee liking George
of England sent a message of con-
dolence to President Taft on the death
of Ambassador Reid. The president
replied at once, and at the same time
sent a cable to Mrs. Reid.
Following the custom when diplo-
mats of high rank are called by death.
| the body of the dead ambassador will
| be brought to this country on a man
of-War