Ronald William Graham

Sir Ronald William Graham, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, PC (24 July 1870 – 26 January 1949) was a British diplomat and the British Ambassador to Italy from 1921 to 1933.^[1]

The Right Honourable Sir Ronald William Graham GCB GCMG GCVO
British Ambassador to Italy
In office 1921–1933
Preceded by	George Buchanan
Succeeded by	Sir Eric Drummond
Personal details
Born	(1870-07-24)24 July 1870 London, England
Died	26 January 1949(1949-01-26) (aged 78) London, England
Spouse	Lady Sybil Brodrick ​ ​ (m. 1912; died 1934)​
Parent	Henry John Lowndes Graham
Education	Eton College
Occupation	Diplomat

Early life

Graham was born in London 24 July 1870, the eldest son of Sir Henry John Lowndes Graham by his first wife Lady Edith Elizabeth Gathorne-Hardy (d. 1875), daughter of Lord Cranbrook. He was educated at Eton College.^[1]

Diplomatic service

In 1892 Graham joined the British Diplomatic Service with his first foreign post at Paris.^[1] In 1902, he was promoted to first secretary and worked at the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office, before moving to Cairo as a Counsellor.^[1]

After a period as Minister at the Hague, he was sworn into Privy Council in 1921 and appointed Ambassador to Italy.^[1] He was the British representative during the Fascist Revolution of 1922 when Benito Mussolini came to power.^[1] Graham retired in November 1933 and became a trustee of the British Museum from 1937.^[1]

Personal life

Grave in Peper Harow, Surrey

Graham married Lady Sybil Brodrick, the daughter of the Earl of Midleton in January 1912. Lady Sybil, who was Maid of honour to Queen Mary from 1911 to 1912, was the sister of George Brodrick, 2nd Earl of Midleton.^[2]

His wife died six months after Graham retired and they had no children.^[1] Graham died at his home in London aged 78 in 1949.^[1]