John Wendell Holmes
Encyclopedia
John Wendell Holmes, (18 June 1910 – 13 August 1988) was a Canadian
diplomat and academic.
Born in London, Ontario
, Holmes attended the University of Western Ontario
and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto
. From 1933 to 1938, he was a master of English at Pickering College
. From 1938 to 1940, he attended the University of London
. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1943 as a temporary wartime assistant.
From 1947 to 1948, he was the Canadian Chargé d'Affaires ad interim to the Soviet Union
. In 1950, he was appointed Acting Permanent Delegate
to the United Nations
. He became Assistant Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs in 1953 where he remained until his retirement in 1960. From 1960 to 1973, Holmes was president (later called director-general) of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
, a non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental organization for the discussion and analysis of international affairs.
Holmes was among hundreds of federal civil servants who were targeted in an RCMP homosexual witch hunt that intensified in 1959 and continued through the 1960s, destroying lives, careers and families.
From 1971 to 1981, he was a Professor of International Relations at York University
, Glendon College
. From 1967 until his death, he was a Visiting Professor of International Relations at the University of Toronto. He was also a Visiting Professor of History at the University of Leeds
in 1979 and 1985.
He was the author of Life with Uncle: the Canadian-American Relationship (1981) and The Shaping of Peace: Canada and the Search for World Order 1943-1957 (2 volumes, 1979 and 1982). In 1986, he was awarded the Royal Society of Canada
's J. B. Tyrrell Historical Medal
in recognition of these volumes.
In 1969, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the recipient of 10 honorary doctorates.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
diplomat and academic.
Born in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Holmes attended the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. From 1933 to 1938, he was a master of English at Pickering College
Pickering College
Pickering College is an independent, co-educational school for children in grades from Junior Kindergarten through grade 12. It is located in Newmarket, Ontario in Canada on a 17-hectare property on Bayview Avenue...
. From 1938 to 1940, he attended the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1943 as a temporary wartime assistant.
From 1947 to 1948, he was the Canadian Chargé d'Affaires ad interim to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In 1950, he was appointed Acting Permanent Delegate
Canadian ambassadors to the United Nations
Canadian ambassadors to the United Nations, full title Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative....
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He became Assistant Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs in 1953 where he remained until his retirement in 1960. From 1960 to 1973, Holmes was president (later called director-general) of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
Canadian institute of international affairs
The Canadian Institute of International Affairs was a Canadian, non-partisan, nationwide forum for the discussion and analysis of international affairs. The CIIA had 13 branches across Canada and a membership of 1,300. It hosted conferences, seminars and a speaker series...
, a non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental organization for the discussion and analysis of international affairs.
Holmes was among hundreds of federal civil servants who were targeted in an RCMP homosexual witch hunt that intensified in 1959 and continued through the 1960s, destroying lives, careers and families.
From 1971 to 1981, he was a Professor of International Relations at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, Glendon College
Glendon College
Glendon College is one of the two campuses of York University, Canada's third-largest university, in Toronto, Ontario. A bilingual liberal arts college with 84 full-time faculty members and a student population of about 2400, Glendon is located in midtown Toronto's Lawrence Park neighbourhood...
. From 1967 until his death, he was a Visiting Professor of International Relations at the University of Toronto. He was also a Visiting Professor of History at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in 1979 and 1985.
He was the author of Life with Uncle: the Canadian-American Relationship (1981) and The Shaping of Peace: Canada and the Search for World Order 1943-1957 (2 volumes, 1979 and 1982). In 1986, he was awarded the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
's J. B. Tyrrell Historical Medal
J. B. Tyrrell Historical Medal
The J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for outstanding work in the history of Canada." It is named in honour of Joseph Burr Tyrrell and is awarded every two years if there is a suitable candidate. The award consists of a gold plated silver...
in recognition of these volumes.
In 1969, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the recipient of 10 honorary doctorates.