Sir George William Buchanan, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, PC was born in Copenhagen in 1854. He was the son of British Ambassador Sir Andrew Buchanan, Bt. and would himself later become a diplomat. Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... Victoria founded the Royal Victorian Order. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Ambassador (disambiguation). ... This page is about negotiations; for the board game, see Diplomacy (game). ...

In 1908 he was appointed as minister in The Hague, The Netherlands. In 1910 Buchanan was appointed as the British Ambassador in Russia. He kept abreast of the political developments in Russia and met some of the leading liberal reformists in the country. It has been suggested that this was secretly encouraged by the then Liberal government in London. 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Arms of The Hague Flag of The city of The Hague. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... This article is about the historic Liberal Party. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Buchanan was the ambassador at the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917. He attempted to convince the Tsar that granting some constitutional reform would stave-off revolution but Nicholas's opinion of him was poisoned by the Tsarina's views. He developed close relations with the liberal Provisional Government that transpired after the February Revolution. However, after the events of the October Revolution and the Bolsheviks ascendency to power he was widely criticised for the failure to ensure that Tsar Nicholas II and his family were evacuated from Russia before their execution by the Bolsheviks in 1918. It is now known that this was not his fault but that of King George V who, fearful of revolutionary trends in Britain, persuaded the Lloyd George government to rescind the offer they had made to provide sanctuary for the Imperial Family. Sir George was was then posted to the Holy See from 1919-21. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a series of political and social upheavals in Russia, involving first the overthrow of the tsarist autocracy, and then the overthrow of the liberal and moderate-socialist Provisional Government, resulting in the establishment of Soviet power under the control of the Bolshevik party. ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... The Russian Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd after the deterioration of the Russian Empire and the abdication of the Tsars. ... The February Revolution (N.S.: March Revolution) of 1917 in Russia was the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. ... Red October redirects here. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... Tsar (Bulgarian, Serbian and Macedonian цар, Russian  , in scientific transliteration respectively car and car ), occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English, is a Slavonic term designating certain monarchs. ... Nicholas II of Russia (18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 17 July [O.S. 4 July] 1918) (Russian: , Nikolay II) was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Poland,[1] and Grand Duke of Finland. ... Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

Sir George's autobiography, My Mission to Russia and Other Diplomatic Memories, was published in 1923. It is believed that he had to leave out some of what he knew under threat of losing his pension. He died in 1924. {{year nav|1939 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

• Meriel Buchanan (daughter) wrote several perceptive books about the revolution,which she witnessed, and key figures she had personally known eg: Victorian Gallery, Cassell 1956. Queen Victoria's Relations, Cassell, 1954. Dissolution of an Empire, John Murray, 1932