Alcock, SIR RUTHERFORD, K.C.B.

Alcock, SIR RUTHERFORD, K.C.B., was born in 1809 in London, studied medicine there at King's College, and saw three years' service on the medical staff of the British auxiliaries in Portugal and Spain (1833-6). Sent out in 1844 as a British consul to China, he was in 1858 made consul-general in Japan, and next year received the rank of minister-plenipotentiary. This dangerous post he filled until 1865, from which year till 1871 he was envoy to the Chinese government. He was made a C.B. in 1860, a K.C.B. in 1862, a D.C.L. of Oxford in 1863, and P.R.G.S. in 1876. He died 2d November 1897. Among his works are Medical Notes on the British Legion of Spain (1838); The Capital of the Tycoon (1863); and Art in Japan (1878).