Pauncefote of Preston, Julian Pauncefote, 1st Baron
Julian Pauncefote Pauncefote of Preston, 1st Baron (pôns´fŏŏt), 1828–1902, British diplomat. He served in various positions in the colonies before becoming (1882) permanent undersecretary for foreign affairs. As minister (ambassador after 1893) to Washington from 1889 until his death, Pauncefote dealt successfully with the problems concerning seal fishing in the Bering Sea, the Venezuela Boundary Dispute, and the Panama Canal question, which was readjusted by the Hay-Pauncefote Treaties (1899–1901). He preserved friendly relations between Great Britain and the United States during the Spanish-American War and in 1899, as senior British delegate to the First Hague Conference, was a leading figure in the formation of a permanent tribunal of arbitration. He was created baron in 1899.