Arthur Cassini

Artur Pavlovich Cassini, Marquess of Capizucchi di Bologna and Count Cassini (; 27 November 1835 – 19 October 1919), known as Arthur Cassini, was a Russian aristocrat and lifelong diplomat who served the Russian Empire for 55 years during the 19th and early 20th centuries. During his tenure, he served most prominently as ambassador to China during the Triple Intervention and the negotiations over the lease of Port Arthur; as ambassador to the United States for seven tumultuous years that saw the Spanish–American and Russo-Japanese wars; and as ambassador to Spain during the Algeciras Conference.

Early life Cassini was born in Trieste, Austrian Empire (now Italy) in 1835 into a noble Russian family of Western European lineage. His paternal grandfather, Viktor Cassini, first entered the service of the tsar in 1790 and distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. His father, Pavel Viktorovich Cassini, had served as Russian Consul at Trieste and as a State Counsellor to Venice. His Venetian

Although his surname Cassini and aristocratic title Marchese [Marquess] di Capizucchi (of Bologna) suggest an Italian citizenship, his family has been in fact Russian for a long time. By imperial decree of 14 October 1892, Arthur, his brother Michael, and their off-spring were entitled to use the noble title of Count (Count Cassini).

Having graduated from the prestigious Imperial Alexander Lyceum in 1854, Cassini entered into Government service on 18 December 1854, by joining the Foreign Office in St. Petersburg at age 18.

Having set out the tone of his mission, when the Sino-Japanese war ended, he led the way for the group of European powers that compelled Japan to withdraw her demands for territory amongst her war gains, in what became known as the Triple Intervention. Immediately after, and against the efforts of the British Government he was instrumental in arranging for the acquisition for Russia of long term concession of Port Arthur and Talien Bay on the Liaotung peninsula, as well as rights to link these by railroad to Russian lines. Recognizing the strategic importance of his role, Cassini is said to have told his niece and adoptive daughter Marguerite: "To possess the East, Russia must possess the Liaotung peninsula."

A shocked mandarin in Manchu robe in the back, with Queen Victoria (United Kingdom), Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany), Tsar Nicholas II (Russia), Marianne (France), and a samurai (Japan) stabbing into a king cake with Chine ("China" in French) written on it. Upon the announcement of his dispatch to Washington, the St. Petersburg Novoye Vremya, offered the following appraisal of the Count's tenure in China:

United States Cassini remained ambassador to China until 3 October 1896, and having gained the reputation of an astute, resourceful, and brilliant diplomat, Indeed, Cassini's mendacity on occasion resulted in direct friction with the White House.

Reports differ as to the reason for his withdrawal as ambassador, with The New York Times reporting differences over the strategy to pursue peace with Japan following the Battle of Tsushima,

Later life and death Cassini retired in 1909, after having spent 55 years in the service of the emperor. He died in 1919 at the age of 83.

Honors and awards For his service, Cassini was awarded decorations, including: Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st degree (1884) Order of Saint Anna, 1st degree (1889) Order of Saint Vladimir, 2nd class (1895) Order of the White Eagle, (1898) Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, (6 April 1904); insignia in diamonds (18 December 1904) Legion of Honour, Grand-croix (19 July 1906)