Karl Ivanovich Weber

Karl Ivanovich Weber (also Carl von Waeber; , , Liepāja – 8 January 1910) was a diplomat of the Russian Empire and a personal friend to King Gojong of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He is best known for his 1885–1897 service as Russia's first consul general to Korea.

Early life and career

Weber was born in Libau (Liepāja) in the Courland Governorate to a middle-class family, and expressed an interest in the history of Asia from an early age. He graduated from the University of Saint Petersburg in 1865, and joined the diplomatic service the following year. His first overseas posting was in Beijing; he was named Russian Consul in Tianjin in 1882. Antoinette Sontag, a housekeeper from Alsace. His wife had personality conflicts with several other members of the Russian and German expatriate communities of Seoul; in particular, she was believed to be responsible for a malicious rumour in the late 1880s that the German consul, Ferdinand Krien, held orgies in the German legation. on 5 October 1902. The celebration was delayed to next year's Spring, and then 30 April 1903.

Later career Speyer finally arrived to replace Weber in September 1897, whereupon he returned to Saint Petersburg. Weber would again visit Seoul in an official capacity in April 1903, on the eve of the Russo-Japanese War, for further talks with King Gojong. He was a recipient of the Order of St. Andrew, Russia's highest order of chivalry. .

Publications