Curzon, George Nathaniel (1859–1925)

British Conservative politician, viceroy of India 1899–1905. During World War I, he was a member of the cabinet 1916–19. As foreign secretary 1919–24, he negotiated the Treaty of Lausanne with Turkey.

As viceroy of India, Curzon introduced various reforms, including the creation of the North-West Frontier Province, reorganization of Indian finance, and the establishment of the imperial cadet corps. He resigned this post in 1905, after a dispute with Horatio Kitchener, commander of the British forces in India.

The eldest son of the 4th Baron Scarsdale, Curzon was born at Kedleston, Derbyshire, and educated at Eton public school and at Oxford University. He became private secretary to the Marquess of Salisbury in 1885, and sat in Parliament as Conservative member for Southport 1886–98. On his return to England from India, Curzon became a prominent member of the opposition in the House of Lords. He was elected chancellor of Oxford University in 1907. When Bonar Law retired as prime minister in 1923, Curzon hoped to succeed him, but the post went to Stanley Baldwin. Baron (Irish peerage) 1898, Earl 1911, Marquess 1921.