Sir Alan Johnstone

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About Sir Alan Johnstone

English diplomat who married into influential French-American political family. Served as the British ambassador at Copenhagen, among other positions.

From Henry Robert Addison's Who's Who, Volume 56:

JOHNSTONE, Hon. Alan, C.V.O.; b. 1868; 4th s. of 1st Baron Derwent; m. 1892, Antoinette Pinchot of New York. Educ: Eton. Entered diplomatic service, 1879 ; has served at Vienna, Washington, Belgrade, the Hague, and Rome; Sec. of Legation, Copenhagen, 1895; Sec. of Embassy, 12 Sept. 19Q1 ; Acting Charge d'Affalres, 1890-99; Secretary or Embassy, Vienna, 1903. Recreations; racing, shooting, golf. Address: British Embassy, Vienna. Clubs: Turf, Travellers', St. James's, Yorkshire.

Note: Year of birth was actually 1858, not 1868.

From Lately Thomas's Delmonico's: A Century of Splendor, p. 242:

It was said that "a dish of terrapin and a red-head duck cooked by a Delmonico chef gave the Hon. Alan Johnstone the pluck to propose to Miss Pinchot."

From the Glasgow Herald, August 2, 1932:

Sir Alan Johnstone, whose death in London is announced, was engaged in the diplomatic service for nearly 40 years. He was the father of Mr Harcourt Johnstone, M.P. Sir Alan, after being educated at Eton, entered the diplomatic service in 1879, and serve in Vienna, Washington, Belgrade, The Hague, and Rome. Between 1895 and 1899 he occupied the posts of Secretary of the Legation, Secretary of the Embassy, and acting Charge d'Affaires at Copenhagen. After spending some time at the Embassy at Vienna he returned to Copenhagen in 1905 as British Minister. After five years there he was transferred to The Hague, where he served as Minister until 1917. Sir Alan, who was the fourth son of the first Baron Derwent, was 73 years of age.

Records held by the Cambridge University Archives. <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=... >

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Sir Alan Johnstone's Timeline

1858
August 31, 1858
England
1895
May 19, 1895
London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
1932
July 31, 1932
Age 73
London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom