Robert Lansing

Robert Lansing
source
Name	Robert Lansing
Caption	Lansing c. 1915
Office	United States Secretary of State
President	Woodrow Wilson
Term start	June 24, 1915
Term end	February 13, 1920
Predecessor	William Jennings Bryan
Successor	Bainbridge Colby
Office1	Counselor of the United States Department of State
President1	Woodrow Wilson
Term start1	April 1, 1914
Term end1	June 9, 1915
Predecessor1	John Bassett Moore
Successor1	Frank Lyon Polk
Birth date	October 17, 1864
Birth place	Watertown, New York, U.S.
Death date	October 30, 1928 (aged 64)
Death place	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Eleanor Foster (m. 1890)
Children	2, including John Foster Dulles
Education	Amherst College (BA)
Profession	Lawyer, diplomat

Robert Lansing was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson from 1915 to 1920. A specialist in international law, his tenure was dominated by the challenges of World War I, complex relations with the Allied Powers, and the contentious Paris Peace Conference. Lansing's legalistic approach and disagreements with Wilson over the League of Nations ultimately led to his resignation, though he left a significant mark on early 20th-century American foreign policy.

Early life and education

Robert Lansing was born in Watertown, New York, to John Lansing and Maria Lay Dodge. He pursued his higher education at Amherst College, graduating in 1886. After completing his studies, he read law and was admitted to the New York bar in 1889, establishing the foundation for his future career in international jurisprudence. His early professional life was spent practicing law in Watertown, where he developed a keen interest in legal disputes involving international boundaries and maritime issues.

Legal and diplomatic career

Lansing quickly gained prominence as a skilled international lawyer, often serving as a counsel for the United States in significant arbitrations. He represented American interests in the Bering Sea Arbitration, the North Atlantic Coast Fisheries Arbitration, and the Alaska boundary dispute. His expertise led to his appointment as legal advisor to the United States Department of State in 1914, with the title of Counselor of the United States Department of State. In this role, he provided critical guidance on the legal intricacies of American neutrality following the outbreak of World War I in Europe.

Secretary of State

Appointed Secretary of State in 1915 following the resignation of William Jennings Bryan, Lansing took a more assertive, legalistic stance toward the German submarine warfare that was threatening American lives and commerce. He authored the stern diplomatic notes following the sinking of the Lusitania and the Sussex. His tenure was marked by the negotiation of the Lansing–Ishii Agreement with Japan and efforts to manage relations with the revolutionary government in Mexico following the Pancho Villa Expedition. Throughout, he maintained a firm belief in protecting American rights under international law.

World War I and the Paris Peace Conference

Lansing was a key figure in the diplomatic maneuvers leading to the American entry into World War I in 1917. He strongly advocated for the declaration of war as a necessary response to unrestricted submarine warfare and the intrigue of the Zimmermann Telegram. At the Paris Peace Conference, however, his influence waned as President Woodrow Wilson increasingly relied on his personal advisor, Edward M. House. Lansing clashed with Wilson over the formation of the League of Nations, which he viewed as a threat to American sovereignty and an impractical venture. He also opposed excessive concessions to Italy and Japan, particularly over the Shandong Peninsula.

Later life and death

Lansing resigned as Secretary of State in February 1920 after public disagreements with President Wilson over the conduct of cabinet meetings during the President's illness. He returned to his private law practice in Washington, D.C., and authored several books on diplomacy, including *The Peace Negotiations: A Personal Narrative* and *The Big Four and Others of the Peace Conference*. He remained a critic of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. Lansing died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Washington, D.C. on October 30, 1928. His legacy includes being the father-in-law of future Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and the uncle by marriage of another, Allen Welsh Dulles. Category:1864 births Category:1928 deaths Category:United States Secretaries of State Category:American diplomats Category:People from Watertown, New York Category:Amherst College alumni