Clare Ford

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Sir Francis Clare Ford, GCB, GCMG (1828-99) was an English diplomat, son of Richard Ford. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Fourth Light Dragoons, but left the army in 1851, entered the diplomatic service, and became Secretary of Legation at Washington, where he was acting charges d'affaires in 1867-68. In 1871 he was appointed Secretary of Embassy at St. Petersburg and in 1872 was transferred to Vienna. He represented the British government in 1897 at Halifax before the International Commission, by decision of which $5,500,000 was awarded to Great Britain for superior advantages obtained by the United States in the Washington fisheries treaty of 1871. In 1878-79 he was Minister to the Argentine Republic and during a portion of the time to Uruguay also. He was afterward appointed to similar posts at Rio de Janeiro and at Athens, in 1884 became Minister (from 1887 Ambassador) to Spain, in 1884-85 was commissioner to settle the Newfoundland fisheries question, in 1892 was transferred to Constantinople and in 1893 to Rome. His services to British diplomacy won for him frequent official recognition, including appointment to the Privy Council in 1888.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
The Lord Vivian		 British Ambassador to Italy
1893–1898		 Succeeded by
Philip Currie