Edward Graham Mellish Chaplin(born 21 February 1951) is a British diplomat, notable for serving as British ambassador in occupied Iraq from April 2004. Until January 2011 he served as British ambassador to Italy. He was the formerPrime Minister's Appointments Secretary.[1]
Edward Chaplin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Her Majesty's Ambassador to Italy | |
| In office 2006–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Ivor Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Prentice |
| Her Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq | |
| In office 2004–2005 | |
| Preceded by | Break in diplomatic relations due toFirst Gulf War |
| Succeeded by | Sir William Patey |
| Her Majesty's Ambassador to Jordan | |
| In office 2000–2002 | |
| Preceded by | Christopher Battiscombe |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Prentice |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 February 1951 |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Nicola Helen Fisher |
| Children | 3 (1 son, 2 daughters) |
| Education | Wellington College |
| Alma mater | Queens' College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Education and personal life
editChaplin was educated atWellington College,an independent school near the village ofCrowthornein Berkshire, followed byQueens' College, Cambridge,from which he graduated with a BA 1st Class Hons. Degree in Oriental Studies, in 1973.
Married Nicola Helen Fisher. One son, 2 daughters.
Life and career
editChaplin headed the Middle East and North Africa department at the Foreign Office in the 80s, notably being briefly detained and assaulted by the IranianIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corpsin 1987.[2][3]
Chaplin represented UK at theNasiriyah conference,where he declared, in April 2003:
The military task is almost completed (...) Our vision for Iraq's future is simply to restore it to its natural place: united, at peace with itself and its neighbours, enjoying effective representative government, playing a leading role in the affairs of the Arab nation and the international community. (...) The Interim Iraqi Authority will put in place a consultative process to decide on the electoral process and the new political structures that best serve the interest of the Iraqi people[4]
In April 2004, after theInvasion of Iraq,Chaplin was appointed ambassador to theIraqi Governing Councilin occupied Iraq.
Chaplin was one of the witnesses ofThe Iraq Inquiry.
Career highlights
edit- 1973 Entered FCO
- 1975–77 Muscat
- 1977–78 Brussels
- 1978–79 École Nationale d'Administration, Paris
- 1979–81 On secondment to CSD as Private Secretary to Lord President of the council, Leader of the House of Lords
- 1981–84 FCO
- 1985–87 Head of Chancery, Tehran
- 1987–89 FCO
- 1990–92 On secondment to Price Waterhouse Management Consultants, 1990–92
- 1992–96 Deputy Permanent Representative, UKMIS Geneva
- 1997–99 Head, Middle East Department, FCO
- 2000–02Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- 2002–04 Director, Middle East and N Africa, FCO
- 2004–05Ambassador to Iraq
- 2005–06 Visiting Fellow, Centre of International Studies,University of Cambridge
- 2006–11Ambassador to Italy
On 1 December 2009, Chaplingave evidencetoThe Iraq Inquiryin which he spoke about post-war planning for Iraq.[5]
Sources and references
edit- ^CHAPLIN, Edward Graham Mellish.A & C Black. 2015.Retrieved7 October2016.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^Key people for post-conflict Iraq,The Guardian.
- ^Lang, Olivia (30 November 2011)."BBC News: Iran and Britain dispute exposes turbulent history".Retrieved30 November2011.
- ^Edward Chaplin: Britain understands Iraq's history[dead link],The Independent,18 April 2003
- ^"US neglected post-war planning for Iraq, inquiry told".BBC News.1 December 2009.Retrieved28 January2010.
- Who's Who 2009