Sir mark sykes biography sample

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Before him are Pedro Cieza de León, Alejandro Malaspina, Jacob van Heemskerck, Hendrik Brouwer, Joshua Slocum, and Pero Escobar. He became known as a notable British diplomat and politician, as well as an influential traveller, writer, and Military Officer.

sir mark sykes biography sample

After him are Guido Fubini, Sándor Garbai, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia, Gorazd, Jacob Gade, and Vanessa Bell. His deep knowledge of the culture and geopolitics of the Middle East allowed him to contribute effectively to the planning that eventually led to the Sykes-Picot Agreement, marking a pivot in British foreign policy in the region.

Signing of the Sykes-Picot Agreement

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret 1916 agreement between the United Kingdom and France, with assent from the Russian Empire, defining their mutually agreed spheres of influence and control in the Middle East following the expected downfall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.

Mark Sykes represented the British side in this significant negotiation, where he worked closely with French diplomat François Georges-Picot to delineate the borders in a way that would divide the Middle Eastern territories between France and Britain.

Death of Mark Sykes

Sir Mark Sykes died suddenly on December 25, 1917, due to the Spanish flu pandemic while in Paris, France.

This union not only linked Sykes to another influential political family but also provided personal stability and support throughout his career. This publication established Sykes as a knowledgeable figure on Middle Eastern affairs and contributed significantly to his reputation as a writer and scholar on the region.

Election to Parliament

In December 1911, Mark Sykes was elected as the Member of Parliament for Central Hull, a position he held until his untimely death.

Sykes played a critical role in the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, particularly through the Sykes–Picot Agreement with France, which significantly shaped the modern Middle East.

First Travel to the Middle East

In 1900, Mark Sykes embarked on his first journey to the Middle East, a region where he would later wield considerable influence.

Edith was the daughter of Sir John Eldon Gorst, a notable politician. Known for his conservative views, Sykes was an influential political figure during his time in office. This detailed timeline highlights pivotal events, from his early life and political career to his significant contributions to Middle Eastern geopolitics in the early 20th century.

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Birth of Mark Sykes

Mark Sykes was born on March 9, 1879, in Westminster, London.

It does not engage in advocacy and its scholars’ opinions are their own. Ross Ashby

ENGINEER

1903 - 1972

HPI: 62.08

Rank: 2,026

  • Mark Sykes

    EXPLORER

    1879 - 1919

    HPI: 62.08

    Rank: 2,027

  • John Taverner

    COMPOSER

    1490 - 1545

    HPI: 62.08

    Rank: 2,028

  • Alkmund of Derby

    RELIGIOUS FIGURE

    800 - 800

    HPI: 62.08

    Rank: 2,029

  • John Hannah

    ACTOR

    1962 - Present

    HPI: 62.08

    Rank: 2,030

  • Mary Ward

    RELIGIOUS FIGURE

    1585 - 1645

    HPI: 62.08

    Rank: 2,031

  • Anthony Collins

    PHILOSOPHER

    1676 - 1729

    HPI: 62.07

    Rank: 2,032

  • Anthony Quayle

    ACTOR

    1913 - 1989

    HPI: 62.07

    Rank: 2,033

    • Among EXPLORERS In United Kingdom

    Among explorers born in United Kingdom, Mark Sykes ranks 32.

    After him are Itagaki Taisuke, Laurence Doherty, Michel Théato, Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Daniel Peter, and Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka.

    Others Born in 1879

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    Others Deceased in 1919

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    In United Kingdom

    Among people born in United Kingdom, Mark Sykes ranks 2,027 out of 8,785.

    Despite his death many decades earlier, this event highlighted the enduring scientific interest in the pandemic and its historical figures. His tenure as MP was marked by recent political activities and his involvement in Middle Eastern politics, ultimately leading to his prominent role in negotiating terms for the postwar division of the Ottoman Empire territories with the Sykes-Picot Agreement being his primary legacy.

    Involvement in Dardanelles Committee

    In early 1914, as tensions in Europe escalated towards World War I, Mark Sykes joined the Dardanelles Committee, which was responsible for planning the naval operations in the Dardanelles and the wider Mediterranean.

    The exhumation aimed to retrieve samples that could provide insights into the virus that caused the pandemic and its characteristics. After him are Richard Chancellor (1521), William Smith (1790), Anthony Jenkinson (1529), John Byron (1723), Lady Hester Stanhope (1776), and John McDouall Stuart (1815).

    British born Explorers

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    Mark Sykes

    Explore the timeline of Mark Sykes, the influential British diplomat, politician, and co-architect of the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

    Nevertheless, it bears application to a number of related topics, such as the Eastern theater of World War One, Arab nationalism, the Zionist movement, Armenian nationalism, the Boer War, and the complications of English high society.

    • Allenby and British Strategy in the Middle East, 1917–1919, by Matthew Hughes, 1999
    • The Great Powers and the End of the Ottoman Empire, by Marian Kent, 1996
    • A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East, by David Fromkin, 1989
    • British Policy in Palestine, 1917–1922, by John McTague, 1983
    • British Policy towards Syria & Palestine, 1906–1914: A Study of the Antecedents of the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and the Balfour Declaration, by Rashid Khalidi, 1980
    • The Zionist Movement, by Israel Cohen, 1945

    Spotlights Home

    The Middle East Institute (MEI) is an independent, non-partisan, non-for-profit, educational organization.

    Sykes documented his travels and insights, which continues to serve as valuable historical resources for understanding early 20th-century dynamics in the Middle East.

    Marriage to Edith Gorst

    Mark Sykes married Edith Gorst in 1902, establishing a personal and social partnership that would continue until his untimely death.

    The text is divided into sections on Sykes’ education and early years; his participation in the Boer War; his early travels to the East (through 1906); his relationship with religion; his travels as a Catholic; his love of literature; his later travels to the East; his political career and his position as a Member of Parliament for Hull; his important service and labors in the Great War; and finally the events surrounding his death.

    This trip marked the beginning of his deep and enduring interest in the politics, cultures, and societies of the region. He was a significant figure during World War I and posthumously known for his major role in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which had profound implications for the future of the Middle East. His unexpected death at the age of 38 was keenly felt within British diplomatic and political circles due to his influence and involvement in the complex geopolitics of the time.

    Exhumation for Medical Research

    In 2008, scientists exhumed the body of Sir Mark Sykes as part of a study on the Spanish flu pandemic.