Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert Graf von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein
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Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein in 1906
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| Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 28 April 1904 – 13 August 1914 |
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| Preceded by | Franz Count Deym von Stritez |
| Succeeded by | None |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 September 1861 Lemberg, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine) |
| Died | 15 June 1945 (aged 83) Vienna, Austria |
| Parents | Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly, Prince von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg Countess Alexandrine von Dietrichstein-Proskau und Leslie |
Albert Viktor Julius Joseph Michael Graf von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein (born September 5, 1861 – died June 15, 1945) was an important diplomat from Austria-Hungary. He served as his country's Ambassador to London. He was in this important role when World War I began.
Contents
Early Life
Albert was born in Lemberg (which is now Lviv, Ukraine) on September 5, 1861. His father, Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly, was a former politician. His mother, Countess Alexandrine Marie Dietrichstein, came from a very old and important family.
Albert's family, the Mensdorff-Pouillys, originally came from Lorraine, France. They had to leave France in 1790 because of the French Revolution.
A Diplomat's Career
Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein started working for the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service in 1884. This meant he worked for his country in other parts of the world. His first job was in Paris, France. Later, in 1889, he moved to London.
Special Connections
Albert had special family connections to the British Royal Family. His grandfather had married Princess Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who was an aunt of Queen Victoria. Also, Albert's father was a close friend of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert.
These connections helped Albert a lot in his career. On May 6, 1904, he became the Ambassador for Austria-Hungary in London. This was a big promotion. It happened because his second cousin, King Edward VII, specifically asked for him.
Working in London
Albert was seen as a very good and well-liked diplomat in London. His friendships with King Edward VII and later King George V gave him special access to the British court. No other diplomat had such close ties. This helped keep friendly relations between Austria-Hungary and Great Britain before World War I.
However, some people in Vienna, including Archduke Franz Ferdinand, didn't fully trust him. They thought he liked Britain too much.
World War I and Peace Efforts
During the tense time before World War I, known as the July Crisis of 1914, Albert tried to prevent the war. Letters show that he wasn't always told everything about his own country's plans. The United Kingdom declared war on Austria-Hungary on August 12, 1914. After this, Albert left London.
During World War I, Albert was involved in several secret missions to try and bring peace. One famous meeting was with General Jan Smuts in Geneva in December 1917. But these talks, and others he had, did not lead to peace.
In 1917, Albert was appointed to the Upper House of the Austrian Parliament. The next year, some people thought he should become the foreign minister. But he was still considered too friendly with Britain by Germany, so he didn't get the job.
After the War
Albert retired from his official work in 1919. However, in 1920, he became the first chief delegate for the new Republic of Austria at the League of Nations. This was an international group formed to promote peace. In this role, he helped negotiate the Geneva Protocols in 1922. These agreements helped Austria get a loan to rebuild its economy after the war.
Later Life and Death
Count Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein passed away in Vienna on June 15, 1945.
See Also
- List of ambassadors of Austria to the United Kingdom
Images for kids
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Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein in 1906
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Portrait by Philip de László
