Oliver Wright (diplomat)
Sir Oliver Wright | |
|---|---|
 at right, in theOval Office | |
| British Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 1982–1986 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Counterpart | Charles H. Price II John J. Louis Jr. |
| Preceded by | Sir Nicholas Henderson |
| Succeeded by | Sir Antony Acland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 March 1922 Hammersmith |
| Died | 1 September 2009(aged 87) England |
| Spouse | Marjory Osborne |
| Alma mater | Solihull School Christ's College, Cambridge |
Sir John Oliver WrightGCMGGCVODSC(6 March 1922 – 1 September 2009) was a British diplomat.[1]He wasBritish Ambassador to West Germanyfrom 1975 to 1981 andBritish Ambassador to the United Statesfrom 1982 to 1986.
Early life[edit]
Wright was born on 6 March 1921 inHammersmith,London, England. He was the younger son of Arthur Wright, a catering manager andhotelier,and his wife, Ethel Louisa Hicks, (née Shearod). The family moved from London to theWest Midlandswhen Wright was very young.[2]He was educated atSolihull School,then an all-boysprivate schoolinSolihull,West Midlands.[3]He won a scholarship toChrist's College, Cambridge.There, he studiedmodern languagesand specialised in German and French.[2]Following graduation, he joined the military for service duringWorld War II.[4]
His studies were interrupted byWorld War II.He served in theRoyal Naval Reserve(1941–45) and was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross.Following his service he took and passed theForeign Officeexam, thus was accepted toHer Majesty's Diplomatic Service.
Military service[edit]
In 1941, having completed his university degree, Wright joined theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve.[4]
Diplomatic career[edit]
Wright's career as a Diplomat was a highly distinguished one:
- New York City(1946–47)
- Bucharest(1948–50)
- Singapore(1950–51)
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office(1952–54)
- Berlin(1954–56)
- Pretoria(1957–58)
- Imperial Defence College(1959)
- Assistant Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1960)
- Counsellor and Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1963)
- Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (1964–66) (to Rt Hon. SirAlec Douglas-Homeand subsequently to Rt Hon.Harold Wilson)
- Ambassador toDenmark(1966–69)
- DeputyHome OfficeRepresentative toNorthern IrishGovernment (Aug 1969 – Mar 1970)
- Chief Clerk,Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service(1970–72)
- Deputy Under-Secretary of State, FCO (1972–75)
- Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (1975–81)
- Retired fromHer Majesty's Diplomatic Service
- Re-appointed, Ambassador toWashington DC(1982–86)
Having retired from the Diplomatic Service in 1981, he was electedMasterofChrist's College, Cambridge.He would have become the new Master in 1982, but was recalled to the Diplomatic Service to become British Ambassador to the United States and therefore never took up the appointment.[5]
Later life[edit]
On 1 January 1987, Wright was appointedKing of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George.This appointment is theherald,one of six officers, of theOrder of St Michael and St George.[6]In July 1996, he was succeeded in the appointment bySir Ewen Fergusson.[7]
Honours and decorations[edit]
On 1 December 1964, he was appointed aCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George(CMG) for his services asPrivate SecretarytoAlec Douglas-Homefrom 1960 to 1964.[8]On 26 May 1978, he was appointedKnight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order(GCVO).[9]Knight Grand Crossis the highest grade within the Royal Victorian. He was appointed GCVO following thestate visitundertaken byQueen Elizabeth IIto West Germany between 22 and 26 May 1978.
- Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)(1944)
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)(1974)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)(1981)
Offices held[edit]
References[edit]
- ^A & C Black (2009)."WRIGHT, Sir (John) Oliver".Who Was Who, online edition.Oxford University Press.Retrieved2 May2012.
- ^abWhitehead, John (January 2013)."Wright, Sir (John) Oliver (1921–2009)".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.Oxford University Press.Retrieved11 May2015.
- ^Palliser, Sir Michael (22 September 2009)."Sir Oliver Wright: Diplomat who served under two Prime Ministers in Downing Street and as ambassador to the US".The Independent.Retrieved11 May2015.
- ^ab"Sir Oliver Wright".The Daily Telegraph.6 September 2009.Retrieved11 May2015.
- ^"Sir Oliver Wright GCMG GCVO DSC".Christ's College, Cambridge.Retrieved12 May2015.
- ^"No. 50791".The London Gazette.2 January 1987. p. 16959.
- ^"No. 54471".The London Gazette.19 July 1996. p. 9759.
- ^"No. 43502".The London Gazette(Supplement). 27 November 1964. p. 10229.
- ^"No. 47567".The London Gazette.13 June 1978. p. 7147.
External links[edit]
- Interview with Sir John Oliver Wright&transcript,British Diplomatic Oral History Programme, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1996
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1922 births
- 2009 deaths
- People educated at Solihull School
- Alumni of Christ's College, Cambridge
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to West Germany
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Denmark
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
- Royal Navy officers of World War II
- Members of HM Diplomatic Service
- Principal Private Secretaries to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
- British people in British Malaya
- British expatriates in Romania
- British expatriates in South Africa
- 20th-century British diplomats
- Royal Naval Reserve personnel
- Military personnel from London
- Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies