Peter Ramsbotham
Encyclopedia
Peter Edward Ramsbotham, 3rd Viscount Soulbury
, GCMG
, GCVO
, KStJ
, DL
(8 October 1919 – 9 April 2010) was a British diplomat and colonial administrator.
Ramsbotham was educated at Eton College
and at Magdalen College, Oxford
. He was already working for MI5
as a civilian when he joined the army on the outbreak of the Second World War. In April 1941, Ramsbotham was working in B3 Division of MI5 (Communications) with the task of studying the activities of foreign journalists in the UK. In July he was with B3A (Censorship) before moving to E3 (Alien Control – USA citizens in the UK and other territories). By 1943 he was with E2 Division dealing with nationals from the Baltic states
, the Balkans
and Central Europe. In June 1943, he left MI5 and was later commissioned into the Intelligence Corps on 9 June 1944. As a fluent speaker in French, he continued to work with MI5 on the Continent
as a member of 106 Special Counter Intelligence Unit (SCIU), running double agents and acting as a liaison officer to the counter-espionage
section of the French Intelligence Service. He also reported to the ‘212’ Committee’, the Allied equivalent of MI5’s ‘XX Committee
’ ('Double Cross Committee'). At the close of hostilities, he was employed in the Political Division of the Control Commissions for both Germany and Austria and served also in Hamburg and Berlin. In recognition of his exemplary service during the war, he received a Mention in Despatches in August 1945 and was awarded a Croix de Guerre
on 1 March 1949 (en bloc).
After the war, Ramsbotham joined the diplomatic service
where he rose to the level of ambassador. His posts have included Ambassador to Iran (1971–1974), Ambassador to the United States (1974–1977) and Governor of Bermuda (1977–1980).
He was appointed Companion (CMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George
in 1964, promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG)
in 1972 (whereupon he was bestowed the honorific
title 'Sir') and promoted again to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG)
in 1978. In 1976, he was appointed Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) of the Royal Victorian Order
as well as Knight (KStJ) of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem
. He inherited the title of Viscount Soulbury
from his elder brother in 2004 but continued to be known as Sir Peter Ramsbotham.
He died in New Alresford, Hampshire 9 April 2010.
Viscount Soulbury
Viscount Soulbury, of Soulbury in the County of Buckingham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1954 for the Conservative politician the Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Baron Soulbury at the end of his term as Governor-General of Ceylon...
, GCMG
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....
, GCVO
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...
, KStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(8 October 1919 – 9 April 2010) was a British diplomat and colonial administrator.
Ramsbotham was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. He was already working for MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
as a civilian when he joined the army on the outbreak of the Second World War. In April 1941, Ramsbotham was working in B3 Division of MI5 (Communications) with the task of studying the activities of foreign journalists in the UK. In July he was with B3A (Censorship) before moving to E3 (Alien Control – USA citizens in the UK and other territories). By 1943 he was with E2 Division dealing with nationals from the Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
, the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and Central Europe. In June 1943, he left MI5 and was later commissioned into the Intelligence Corps on 9 June 1944. As a fluent speaker in French, he continued to work with MI5 on the Continent
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
as a member of 106 Special Counter Intelligence Unit (SCIU), running double agents and acting as a liaison officer to the counter-espionage
Counter-intelligence
Counterintelligence or counter-intelligence refers to efforts made by intelligence organizations to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence organizations from successfully gathering and collecting intelligence against them. National intelligence programs, and, by extension, the overall defenses of...
section of the French Intelligence Service. He also reported to the ‘212’ Committee’, the Allied equivalent of MI5’s ‘XX Committee
Double Cross System
The Double Cross System, or XX System, was a World War II anti-espionage and deception operation of the British military intelligence arm, MI5. Nazi agents in Britain - real and false - were captured, turned themselves in or simply announced themselves and were then used by the British to broadcast...
’ ('Double Cross Committee'). At the close of hostilities, he was employed in the Political Division of the Control Commissions for both Germany and Austria and served also in Hamburg and Berlin. In recognition of his exemplary service during the war, he received a Mention in Despatches in August 1945 and was awarded a Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
on 1 March 1949 (en bloc).
After the war, Ramsbotham joined the diplomatic service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
where he rose to the level of ambassador. His posts have included Ambassador to Iran (1971–1974), Ambassador to the United States (1974–1977) and Governor of Bermuda (1977–1980).
He was appointed Companion (CMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George
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 1964, promoted to Knight Commander (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 1972 (whereupon he was bestowed the honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
title 'Sir') and promoted again to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG)
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 1978. In 1976, he was appointed Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) of the Royal Victorian Order
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...
as well as Knight (KStJ) of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. He inherited the title of Viscount Soulbury
Viscount Soulbury
Viscount Soulbury, of Soulbury in the County of Buckingham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1954 for the Conservative politician the Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Baron Soulbury at the end of his term as Governor-General of Ceylon...
from his elder brother in 2004 but continued to be known as Sir Peter Ramsbotham.
He died in New Alresford, Hampshire 9 April 2010.