15 Facts About Robert Lansing

Robert Lansing was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as Counselor to the State Department at the outbreak of World War I, and then as United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson from 1915 to 1920.

Robert Lansing was an avowed enemy of German autocracy and Russian Bolshevism.

However, Wilson made Colonel House his chief foreign policy advisor because Robert Lansing privately opposed much of the Treaty of Versailles and was skeptical of the Wilsonian principle of self-determination.

Robert Lansing was born in Watertown, New York, the son of John Lansing and Maria Lay Lansing.

Robert Lansing graduated from Amherst College in 1886, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1889.

In 1914 Robert Lansing was appointed counselor to the State Department by President Woodrow Wilson.

Robert Lansing advocated "benevolent neutrality" at the start of World War I but shifted away from the ideal after increasing interference and violation of the rights of neutrals by Britain.

Robert Lansing expressed his views by manipulating the work of the State Department to minimize conflict with Britain and maximize public awareness of Germany's faults.

Robert Lansing replaced Bryan, and said in his memoirs that following the Lusitania tragedy he always had the "conviction that we would ultimately become the ally of Britain".

In 1916, Robert Lansing hired a handful of men who became the State Department's first special agents in the new Bureau of Secret Intelligence.

In 1919, Robert Lansing became the nominal head of the US Commission to the Paris Peace Conference.

Robert Lansing stepped down from his post on February 12,1920.

Robert Lansing died in New York City on October 30,1928, and was buried at Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, New York.

In 1890, Lansing married Eleanor Foster, the daughter of Secretary of State John W Foster.

New York State Senator Robert Lansing was his grandfather; Chancellor John Lansing Jr.