upon his retirement in 1908, rather than return to new england, which his wife disliked almost as much as china, the couple took up residence in surrey, england. in 1909 he turned down feelers from the american government to become ambassador to china. during the first world war, he became a british citizen (as he had been born in a british colony). he traveled frequently to the united states, and kept up relations with his harvard classmates, including charles franklin thwing, president of western reserve university. a long-time smoker, he died of pneumonia in february, 1934.