Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice was the British Ambassador to the United States from 1914 to 1918. He was also stationed in DC earlier in his diplomatic career, from 1886 to 1888, and from 1889 to 1891. Rice’s other diplomatic postings included Tehran, Cairo, St. Petersburg, Persia, and Sweden. He was married in 1904 and fathered two children. He was knighted in 1906. His book, Poems, was published posthumously in 1920.
While posted to DC, Spring-Rice lived at the British Legation, now the St. John’s Church Parish House.
The Homes
1525 H St. NW, Washington, DC (St. John's Church Parish House)
By the time Spring-Rice lived here, the building’s original simple, unadorned façade had been renovated. Thomas U. Walter’s 1854 major renovation transformed the house into an Italianate mansion with sandstone window and door frames with boldly projecting triangular pediments supported by brackets. A second 1877 renovation added the mansard roof. Also known as Ashburton House. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Also home to: Owen Meredith Henry Lytton Bulwer
Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice
1525 H St NW, Washington, DC, United States
Located in Lafayette Square neighborhood, Northwest - East of Rock Creek