Henry Chilton

He was educated at Wellington College and joined the Diplomatic Service as an attaché in 1902.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27426/pages/2605 The London Gazette, 18 April 1902] He served at Vienna, Copenhagen; The Hague; Brussels; Berlin and Washington, DC, before he was appointed Counseller of Embassy at Rio de Janeiro in 1920 and then at Washington, DC, in 1921.

In 1924, he was promoted to be Minister to the United States[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32960/pages/5717 The London Gazette, 29 July 1924] under the Ambassador, Sir Esmé Howard. Still with the rank of minister, he was the British envoy to the Vatican from 1928 to 1930.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33443/pages/7895 The London Gazette, 30 November 1928] He was then promoted to ambassador and posted to Chile 1930–33,[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33638/pages/5295 The London Gazette, 26 August 1930] to Argentina (1933–1935)[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34019/pages/675 The London Gazette, 30 January 1934] and to Spain (1935-1939).[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34222/pages/7413 The London Gazette, 22 November 1935]

Soon after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, several embassies in Madrid, including the British, evacuated to Hendaye, France, on the border with Spain.[https://www.nytimes.com/1936/08/02/archives/hendaye-now-center-for-envoys-to-spain-some-set-up-headquarters-in.html Hendaye Now Center For Envoys To Spain], The New York Times, 2 August 1936 "Chilton was a blatant admirer of the nationalists and preferred to stay in Hendaye rather than return to Madrid" while it was still under Republican control.{{Cite book |last=Beevor |first=Antony |title=The Battle for Spain: the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939 |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2006 |isbn=014303765X |edition=Rev |location=New York |pages=134}} He left Hendaye on long leave prior to his retirement in December 1937. The Times stated, "His has been an exacting, delicate and in many respects a thankless task, carried out with unfailing courtesy and devotion to duty."Sir Henry Chilton Leaves Hendaye, The Times, London, 30 December 1937, page 10 Geoffrey Thompson, secretary to the embassy, was chargé d'affaires until Owen O'Malley, who held the rank of minister, took over the embassy at Hendaye. Chilton returned to Hendaye in May 1939 on his way to Madrid to collect his belongings. He was succeeded as ambassador by Sir Maurice Peterson in the autumn of 1939.British Embassy in Madrid, The Times, London, 27 May 1939, page 11

During the Second World War, Chilton worked in the Ministry of Economic Warfare and then in the Ministry of Information. He accompanied Lord Willingdon on a trade mission to South America in 1940 to 1941. Sir Henry also served in the Home Guard from 18 June 1940 to 13 September 1941.

Born on 15 October 1877 at West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey. His mother was Caroline Chilton and father Alfred R.T.Chilton.

In 1906, while he was serving in Copenhagen, Chilton married Katherine, the daughter of Thomas J. O'Brien, the US ambassador to Denmark. They had two daughters. Katherine died in 1959.

Henry Chilton was appointed CMG in the New Year Honours of 1921,[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32178/supplements/6 Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1921] knighted KCMG in the King's Birthday Honours of 1930[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33611/supplements/3477 Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 June 1930] and raised to GCMG in the New Year Honours of 1934.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34010/supplements/5 Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1934]

{{s-start}}

{{s-dip}}

{{succession box

|before=Hon. Sir Odo Russell

|title=[[List of Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the Holy See|Envoy Extraordinary and

Minister Plenipotentiary to His Holiness the Pope]]

|years=1928–1930

|after=George Ogilvie-Forbes
(chargé d'affaires)

}}

{{succession box

|before=Archibald Clark Kerr

|title=[[List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Chile|Ambassador Extraordinary

and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Chile]]

|years=1930-1933

|after=Sir Robert Michell

}}

{{succession box

|before=Sir Ronald Macleay

|title=Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Buenos Aires

|years=1933-1935

|after=Sir Nevile Henderson

}}

{{succession box

|before=Sir George Grahame

|title=[[List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Spain|Ambassador Extraordinary

and Plenipotentiary at Madrid]]

|years=1935-1938

|after=Sir Maurice Peterson

}}

{{s-end}}

• [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U235723 CHILTON, Sir Henry Getty], Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007, retrieved 6 Sept 2012
• Obituary – Sir Henry Chilton, The Times, London, 22 November 1954, page 8

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chilton, Henry }}

Category:1877 births

Category:1954 deaths

Category:People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the Holy See

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Chile

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Argentina

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Spain

Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:British Home Guard soldiers

Category:British anti-communists