Sir George Rumbold, 2nd Baronet

Sir George Rumbold, 2nd Baronet (17 August 1764 – 15 December 1807) was a British diplomat who was ambassador to the Hanseatic League.

Early life

George Berriman Rumbold was born in Fort William, India, where his father Thomas Rumbold worked for the East India Company. Berriman was his mother's maiden name.

He was educated privately and at Christ's College, Cambridge.

Career

He joined the Diplomatic Service and in 1803 was appointed ambassador to the Hanse Towns, minister-resident of Great Britain at Hamburg (at that time a "free city"), and chargé d'affaires to the Circle of Lower Saxony.

On the night of 24 October 1804 Rumbold was abducted by French troops on the pretext that British Ministers on the Continent had conspired against France. Joseph Fouché, the Minister of Police in Paris, had sent an order in the name of Napoleon to Marshal Bernadotte commanding French occupation troops in Hanover.[1]

A detachment of 250 French troops embarked in boats at Harburg, in Hanoverian territory. They crossed the river Elbe, landed on the Hamburg side, proceeded to Rumbold's residence, forced the door, and compelled him to deliver up his papers. He was then taken to Hanover in a guarded coach, thence to Paris, and confined in the Temple.[2] In Berlin great indignation was expressed and the King of Prussia, as Protector of the Circle of Lower Saxony and guardian of the free cities, ordered his minister at Paris to demand Rumbold's release. The next day, on the orders of Napoleon, he was conveyed to Cherbourg and put on board a French cutter, sailing under flag of truce, which delivered him to the British frigate Niobe, in which he arrived at Portsmouth. The papers seized at Hamburg remain in the Archives nationales in Paris and reveal no conspiracy.[3][4]

Rumbold returned to Hamburg where he was replaced in 1806. He died of fever at Memel on 15 December 1807.

Family

George Rumbold's father was made a baronet in the 1770s. George was the second son, but his elder brother died before his father, so George inherited the baronetcy on his father's death in 1791. In 1783 he had married Caroline Hearn, who became Lady Rumbold; their elder son William became the 3rd Baronet in 1807. In 1809 Lady Rumbold married Sir Sidney Smith.

References
  • This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Rumbold, George Berriman" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  • G.LeG. Norgate, Rumbold, Sir George Berriman, second baronet (1764–1807), rev. H.C.G. Matthew, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
  1. MINISTERE DE LA POLICE GENERALE
    Paris, le 8 Vendemiaire, An.13
    LE SENATEUR MINISTRE DE LA POLICE GENERALE DE L'EMPIRE, GRAND OFFICIER DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR, A M. LE MARECHAL BERNADOTTE, GENERAL EN CHEF DE L'ARMEE D'HANOVRE:
    J'ai des preuves materielles, M. le Maréchal, que l'Agent Anglais, Rumbold, à Hambourg, suit les mêmes erremens d'espionnage et de machination qui ont déjà excité l'indignation de l'Europe contre les Drake et les Spencer Smith; et il est évident, par le circulaire de lord Hawkesbury, à la suite de complots découverts de ces misérables, que la gouvernement britannique a osé avouer et réduire même en système, cette tactique de complots de la part de ces Ministres accrédités auprès des puissances Alliées ou Neutres; ainsi le Ministres sont, pour ainsi dire, constitués des conspirateurs, et placés hors de la loi commune des nations civilisées. L'ordre expres de S.M. l'Empereur est, que M. Rumbold soit saisi, et que l'on s'assure de tous les papiers qui seront trouvés dans la maison. Je vous invite en conséquence, M. le Maréchal, a prendre toutes les mésures nécéssaires pour la plus prompte exécution de cette opération.
    Les communications convenables se feront aussitôt que l'opération sera terminée et que Rumbold avec toute la corréspondance sera dans vos lignes.
    Il sera superflu d'intruiser à cet egard les Agens Diplomatiques.
    (Signé) Fouché
    Pour Copie conforme,
    (Signé) Bernadotte
    MINISTRY OF GENERAL POLICE
    Paris, September 30, 1804
    THE SENATOR MINISTER OF GENERAL POLICE OF THE EMPIRE, GRAND OFFICER OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR, TO MARSHAL BERNADOTTE, GENERAL IN CHIEF OF THE ARMY OF HANOVER:
    I have material proofs, M. le Maréchal, that the English Agent, Rumbold, at Hamburgh, follows the same sinister system of espionage, and of machinations, which have already excited the indignation of Europe against Drake and Spencer Smith; and it is evident, from the circular letters of Lord Hawkesbury, in consequence of the conspiracies discovered of these two wretches, that the British Government has dared to avow, and reduce even to a system, that train of conspiracies on the part of its Ministers, accredited to Allied or Neutral Powers. These Ministers are thus, as it were, constituted conspirators, and placed outside the law common to civilised nations. The express order of his Majesty the Emperor is, that Rumbold shall be seized, and that you make sure of all the papers which may be found in his house. I invite you, in consequence, M. le Maréchal, to take all the necessary measures for the most prompt execution of this operation.
    Let the requisite communications be made as soon as the operation shall be terminated, and Rumbold, with all his correspondence, shall be within your lines.
    It will be superfluous to instruct, in this regard, the Diplomatic Agents.
    (Signed) Fouché
    Conformable to Copy,
    (Signed) Bernadotte
    – Arrest Of Sir George Rumbold The Times, London, 16 November 1804, page 2
  2. Another Violation Of The Law Of Nations, The Times, London, 2 November 1804, page 2
  3. Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher, Studies in Napoleonic Statesmanship; Germany (Ardent Media, 2009), page 89
  4. A.W. Ward & G. P. Gooch (ed.) The Cambridge History of British Foreign Policy, 1783–1919 (Cambridge, 1922), page 333
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