Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-10
RoCKHGLL'S LONG
CAREER OF SERVICE
Death Halted Most Important Mission
of His Life -Yuan-Shi-Kai Chose Him
as Adviser-Added Greatly to Ameri-
can knowledge of and Influence in
Far East.
Nv CUARTEMACNE TOWER

u
yesterday, Of William woodville Rockhill
marks the end Of an unusually interesting,
varied and useful life, as we'll of a career
| which for nearly 30 years of activity in the
service OF the United States Government had
not only enlarged the volume Of scientific
and geographical knowledge, especially in the
Far East, but extended American influence
into some of the most remote districts OF the
world.
Indeed, Mr.. Rockhill was on his way to
China upon what would unquestionably have
been the most important undertaking that
he had ever been engaged in--he having been
invited by Yuan shi-Ka to become his ad-
wiser upon questions relating to foreign
affairs-when he was taken i'll upon the ship
on which he had sailed from San Francisco
and was obliged to go ashore to seek relief
from the malady which he was unable 20
overcome.
william Woodville Rockhill was born in
Philadelphia in 1864; his father was Thomas
Cadwalader Rockhll, and his mother Doro-
thy Woodville, Of Baltimore.
His education, like many of his experiences
in life, different from that of American
boys in general; for he was sent to school
in France. and was admitted to the Ecole
Specale Mitaire de st. Cyr, whence he en-
tered the French army a lieutenant in the
Legion Etrangere stationed in Algiers In
1873.
After three years of army service Mr..
Rockhil whose tastes inclined him toward
the study of the Orient, went to China with
the purpose Of travelling into the interior, as
far as the circumstances of those days per-
mitted, in order to gain an acquaintance with
the Chinese people at home, an experience
which resulted in his requirement of the
official language and of various dialects of
China in the course of several years Of study
and research. He was consequently valua-
BILE assistant to the American representative
when he entered the diplomatic service and
was made Second Secretary of the United
States Legation at Peking, in 1884, and First
Secretary later, from 1885 to 1888; serving
there notably during the mission to China
of the late Hon. John Russell Young
Journeys of Exploration
Mr.. Rockhin left the Legation in order to
continue his researches in the interior of
China, in 1883, and made two journeys of
exploration, one in that year and 1889 and a
second in 1S91-92, through China, Mongolia
and Tibet which were remarkable in them
selves and led to distinguished recognition
of his work by Oriental scholars throughout
the world. He received at that time the
Patrons medal of the Royal Geographical
Society, while the diary of his journey made
in 1S0l-92 i'm which he traversed Tibet from
west to east as far as the high plateau in
the north CChang-t-ang),, was published
with map of his route, by the Smithsonian
Institution In 1894.
Mr.. Rockhlll left China to return home in
1903, scarcely intending to go back to the
Far East in which much of his life had
been spent, but with strong desire to live
nuCa unOre in his ouyn country. a dRsire that
was gratifed by residence of several years
in Washington which were full of the hap
piness resulting from strong attachments
and the Intimate friendships around him
there.
He was appointed to the Department of
State, as chief clerk, in 1S93 and remained
there, under promotions which made him
First Assistant Secretary of State until 1897.
He became the director of the International
Bureau of the American Republics in 1899,
remaining there until the year 1905. During
that period his services were of very great
value to our Government and it is probable
that his knowledge and judgment had a
direct influence upon the policy of the United
States Government during that troublesome
period in China; 1t is we'll known that John
Hay then Secretary of State was a close
personal friend OF his. had profound conf
every step in the foreign relations OF the
United States with the Orient
His Services as Envoy
The later years Of Mr.. Rockhils life were
employed for the most part in the service
of the Government-principally in the differ
ent missions with which he was intrusted
abroad. He was appointed Minister to
Greece, Rumania and servia, in 1897. and
10, at he - tb
ident OF the United States, as Commissioner |
and Penipotentiary in 1901; being appointed |
Minister TO China in 1905 He was promoted |
to be Ambassador to Russia in 1909, and was |
transferred 10 constantinople in 1911 as Am |
bassador 10 Turkey.
Mr.. Rockhill was personally a man OF re- |
fnement and scholarship, with a wide knowl- /
edge Of the world as the result Of his exten-
sive travels and the contact with men and l
things in almost every quarter of the globe |
He added to his genial nature a disposition |
that made him friendly and accessible to
strangers. while his extensive acquaintance
with foreign languages and literature
abled him to meet upon equal terms the |
scholars Nof all countries by whom he was
surrounded.
His published works relate chiefly to the /
East; the most prominent being; The Life /
OF Buddha" 1881; THE Land Of the Lamas,"
1897 and his 'tDiary OF a Journey IN Mon
golia ana Tibet" 1894.
II ne had been permitted 10 carry out his I
mission as Foreisn Adviser 70 the Chinese
Government he would undoubtedly have
brought the influence Of the United States
to bear upon the Affairs OF the Far East TO
a degree never attained by US before. His
death Is an International loss 10 ourselves
and 10 China as well.
aIr, Rookhill married Miss Edith Howell 4
Perkins and had two daughters.