(1862–1933), British Liberal statesman. The British statesman Sir Edward Grey served as foreign secretary for 11 years (1905–16), the longest unbroken term in that office of any English politician up to that time. He is best remembered, however, for a statement made as World War I broke out: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.” Grey served in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1916, when he was created a viscount. He then entered the House of Lords for the rest of his career. In the years prior to the war he did his utmost to keep Britain free of binding commitments that might drag his country into a continental war. During July 1914 he engaged in frantic negotiations, all of which failed. Britain was drawn into the war by France and Russia. Grey died near Embleton, Northumberland, on Sept. 7, 1933.