John Henniker-Major, 8th Baron Henniker
Encyclopedia
John Patrick Edward Chandos Henniker-Major, 8th Baron Henniker KCMG
CVO
MC
(19 February 1916-29 April 2004), known as Sir John Henniker-Major from 1965 to 1980, was a British
peer, civil servant and diplomat.
Henniker was the eldest son of John Ernest de Grey Henniker-Major, 7th Baron Henniker, and Molly Burnet. He was educated at Stowe
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, and entered the Foreign Office in 1938. He served in the Second World War as a Major in the Rifle Brigade, and was awarded the Military Cross
. After the war he returned to the diplomatic service and served at the British Embassy in Belgrade
from 1945 to 1946, as Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin
from 1946 to 1948, at the Foreign Office from 1948 to 1950 and at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires
from 1950 to 1952. From 1953 to 1960 he was Head of the Personnel Department at the Foreign Office.
In 1960 Henniker was appointed Ambassador to Jordan, a post he held until 1962, and was then Ambassador to Denmark from 1962 to 1966. He served as Assistant Under-Secretary of State from 1966 to 1967 but declined the ambassadorships to Brazil
and the Republic of Ireland
as he wanted to stay in England
. In 1968 he became Director-General of the British Council
, which he remained until 1972. Henniker devoted the later part of his life to charitable causes. In 1980 he succeeded as eighth Baron Henniker on the death of his 97-year old father. He was made a CMG
in 1956, a CVO
in 1960 and a KCMG
in 1965.
Lord Henniker married, firstly, Margaret Osla, daughter of James William Benning, in 1946. They had two sons and one daughter. After his first wife's death in 1974 he married, secondly, Julia Poland (née Mason), daughter of George M. Mason, in 1976. He died in April 2004, aged 88, and was succeeded in his titles by his son Mark.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(19 February 1916-29 April 2004), known as Sir John Henniker-Major from 1965 to 1980, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer, civil servant and diplomat.
Henniker was the eldest son of John Ernest de Grey Henniker-Major, 7th Baron Henniker, and Molly Burnet. He was educated at Stowe
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, and entered the Foreign Office in 1938. He served in the Second World War as a Major in the Rifle Brigade, and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. After the war he returned to the diplomatic service and served at the British Embassy in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
from 1945 to 1946, as Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin was a British trade union leader and Labour politician. He served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1945, as Minister of Labour in the war-time coalition government, and as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour Government.-Early...
from 1946 to 1948, at the Foreign Office from 1948 to 1950 and at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
from 1950 to 1952. From 1953 to 1960 he was Head of the Personnel Department at the Foreign Office.
In 1960 Henniker was appointed Ambassador to Jordan, a post he held until 1962, and was then Ambassador to Denmark from 1962 to 1966. He served as Assistant Under-Secretary of State from 1966 to 1967 but declined the ambassadorships to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
as he wanted to stay in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1968 he became Director-General of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, which he remained until 1972. Henniker devoted the later part of his life to charitable causes. In 1980 he succeeded as eighth Baron Henniker on the death of his 97-year old father. He was made a CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1956, a CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1960 and a KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1965.
Lord Henniker married, firstly, Margaret Osla, daughter of James William Benning, in 1946. They had two sons and one daughter. After his first wife's death in 1974 he married, secondly, Julia Poland (née Mason), daughter of George M. Mason, in 1976. He died in April 2004, aged 88, and was succeeded in his titles by his son Mark.