Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-16
AMBASSADOR WHITELAW REID
DIES, SUNDAY, IN ENGLAND.

I to my attending the public meeting at
the Mansion House to help inaugurate
your movement for celebrating the Tooth
anniversary of peace between our two
countries. / especially wish to ne pres
ent because / regard this as an event of
enormous Importance and l think that
failure TO give it such a celebration as
should challenge the attention of the
whole world would be a crime
After congratulating Mr.. Donald on his
work and writings in behalf of the cele-
bration, the letter Concluded
IF dared to promise to be present at
the Lord Mayors meeting l would, and
if by the time it comes 1 can escape so
far from the thraldom of the physicians
l surely shall be.
I'm the meantime l hope that the
work is in as forward and promising
state in my own country as here. / am
sure that the centenary could not have
come at a moment more helpful Tor the
peace of the world"
Whitelaw Reid was in his 18th year,
having been born Oct. a. 1887, in Xenia,
Ohio He became q newspaper writer at
an early period of his life and never
broke off his connection with the public
service. He was editor in chief of the
New York Tribune for pany years, and
afterwards became proprietor of that
journal In the meantime, however, his
career bad been a varied ont. He served
in the first campaign of the Civil War in
1861, and then as war correspondent, in
which capacity he was present at many
ti,,,a
he was librarian of the House of Repre-
sentatves and at another he was a cot
ton planter in Louisiana
Later in life he went into the diplomat
ic service and was sent to France as
United States minister in 1889. remaining
until 1892. During that period he did
some important diplomatic work in Sc
curing the resembling of the decree pro-
hibiting the importation of American
meats into France and also in negotiat-
ing the reciprocity and extradition trea-
ties between the United States and
France. He came back to the United
states to run as the Republican eana.aate
for Vice President on the ticket with
President Harrison. In 1897 he. was sent
as special ambassador to Great Britain
Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
His next important work was as special
commissioners to the Paris conference
which negotiated peace between the
United States and Spain.
In 1902 he was again appointed special
ambassador to Great Britain for the cor
onation of King Edward VII. with whom
he was always on the most friendly
terms. He was chosen in March, 1905,
United States ambassador to Great Bril-
tain in succession to Joseph II. Choate.
Since that date his popularity in Eng
land, which was always very great. aug
mented from year to year, for he identi-
fled himself with all the social, educa-
tional and other movements of the Unit
ed Kingdom. He was chosen on many
occasions as speaker at the inaugural
ceremonies of great public institutions
and was a great favorite owing to his
profound knowledge of English history.
He had always been student of English
life. probably having inherited his wish
for knowledge on this subject from his pa
rents, who descended from the Scottish
coventers. His son, Ogden Mills Reid. is
president of the Tribune Associa ton and
managing editor of the Tribune. His
daughter, Jean, is the wife of the Hon.
John Hubert Ward, equerry i'm waiting to
Queen Alexandra.