Peter Ramsbotham
{{Short description|British diplomat and colonial administrator}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
|name = The Viscount Soulbury
|honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG|GCVO|KStJ|DL}}
|image = Sir Peter Ramsbotham.jpg
|imagesize =|office = Governor of Bermuda
|term_start = 1977
|term_end = 1980
|primeminister = James Callaghan
Margaret Thatcher
|monarch = Elizabeth II
|predecessor = Edwin Leather
|successor = Richard Posnett
|office2 = British Ambassador to the
United States
|term_start2 = 1974
|term_end2 = 1977
|monarch2 = Elizabeth II
|primeminister2 = Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
|predecessor2 = Rowland Baring
|successor2 = Peter Jay
|office3 = British Ambassador to Iran
|term_start3 = 1971
|term_end3 = 1973
|primeminister3 = Edward Heath
|predecessor3 = Denis Wright
|successor3 = Anthony Parsons
|office4 = British High Commissioner to Cyprus
|term_start4 = 1969
|term_end4 = 1971
|primeminister4 = Edward Heath
Harold Wilson
|predecessor4 = Norman Costar
|successor4 = Robert Humphrey Edmonds
|nickname =
|allegiance =
|branch = {{army|UK}}
|serviceyears = 1942–1948
|rank = Lieutenant colonel
|unit = Intelligence Corps
|commands =
|battles = World War II
|awards = Mention in Despatches
Croix de Guerre
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1919|10|8}}
|birth_place = London, United Kingdom
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2010|4|9|1919|10|8}}
|death_place = New Alresford, Hampshire
|spouse = Frances Marie Massie Blomfield (died 1982)
Zaida Mary Hall
|children = 3
|father = Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
|alma_mater = Magdalen College, Oxford
|website =
}}
Peter Edward Ramsbotham, 3rd Viscount Soulbury {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCMG|GCVO|KStJ|DL}} (8 October 1919 – 9 April 2010) was a British diplomat and colonial administrator.
Early life
Born in London, Ramsbotham was the younger son of Herwald Ramsbotham, later the 1st Viscount Soulbury. He was educated at Eton College and at Magdalen College, Oxford. At Oxford he contracted polio in 1938, which left him with a slightly shorter right leg.
World War II
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).
Diplomatic Service
In 1948, Ramsbotham joined the diplomatic service on the advice of his superior, Sir Christopher Steel.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-peter-ramsbotham-diplomat-who-served-as-ambassador-to-washington-before-being-controversially-replaced-by-peter-jay-1949390.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-peter-ramsbotham-diplomat-who-served-as-ambassador-to-washington-before-being-controversially-replaced-by-peter-jay-1949390.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sir Peter Ramsbotham: Diplomat who served as Ambassador to Washington before being controversially replaced by Peter Jay|first=Martin|last=Childs|work=The Independent|date=21 April 2010|accessdate=14 March 2013}} He failed the Foreign Office exam on his first attempt, due to poor mathematical skill, but passed six months later after some coaching. His first position was in the German Department of the Foreign Office in London.
His posts included High Commissioner to Cyprus (1969–1971) Ambassador to Iran (1971–1974) and Ambassador to the United States (1974–1977). He had a close relationship with Jimmy Carter, and was the first ambassador Carter invited to the White House.
Ramsbotham was removed from his position as Ambassador to the United States by incoming Foreign Secretary David Owen. Owen controversially replaced him with Peter Jay, who was economics editor of The Times, the son-in-law of Prime Minister James Callaghan and Owen's personal friend.
Governor
Ramsbotham's final posting was as Governor of Bermuda (1977–1980). During his governorship, the two assassins of Sir Richard Sharples, the former governor, were hanged. The executions were followed by extensive rioting, as a result of which troops had to be sent to Bermuda to restore order.
Honours and title
He was appointed Companion (CMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1964, promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in 1972, becoming Sir Peter Ramsbotham, 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.
Family
His first marriage was to Frances Marie Massie Blomfield. They were married on 30 August 1941 and their marriage ended with her death in 1982. His second marriage was to Dr Zaida Mary Hall, née Megrah, in 1985 (died 17 March 2013). He died in New Alresford, Hampshire on 9 April 2010.
References
- Who's Who 2009
- {{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/7572343/Sir-Peter-Ramsbotham.html|title=Sir Peter Ramsbotham (obituary)|date=9 April 2010|work=Daily Telegraph}}
External links
{{wikisource author}}
- [https://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0014%2FDOHP%2044 Interview with Hon Sir Peter Ramsbotham] & [https://archives.chu.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Ramsbotham.pdf transcript], British Diplomatic Oral History Programme, Churchill College, Cambridge, 2001
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{{succession box | title=British High Commissioner to Cyprus | before=Sir Norman Costar | after=Robert Humphrey Edmonds | years=1969–1971}}
{{succession box | title=British Ambassador to Iran | before=Sir Denis Wright | after=Sir Anthony Parsons | years=1971–1973}}
{{succession box | title=British Ambassador to the United States | before=The Earl of Cromer | after=Peter Jay | years=1974–1977}}
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{{succession box | title=Governor of Bermuda | before=Sir Edwin Leather | after=Sir Richard Posnett | years=1977–1980}}
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{{s-bef | before=James Ramsbotham}}
{{s-ttl | title=Viscount Soulbury | years=2004–2010}}
{{s-aft | after = Oliver Peter Ramsbotham}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramsbotham, Peter}}
Category:People educated at Eton College
Category:Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford
Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Iran
Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States
Category:British Army personnel of World War II
Category:Deputy lieutenants of Hampshire
Category:High commissioners of the United Kingdom to Cyprus
Category:Intelligence Corps officers
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Category:Knights of the Order of St John