John Williams (diplomat)
British diplomat (1922–2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir John Robert Williams (15 September 1922 – 21 March 2000) was a British diplomat who served as high commissioner of the United Kingdom to Fiji from 1970 to 1974 and high commissioner of the United Kingdom to Kenya from 1979 to 1982.
Sir John Williams | |
|---|---|
| High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Kenya | |
| In office 1979–1982 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Stanley Fingland |
| Succeeded by | Sir Leonard Allinson |
| High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Fiji | |
| In office 1970–1974 | |
| Preceded by | post established |
| Succeeded by | James Stanley Arthur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 September 1922 |
| Died | 21 March 2000 (aged 77) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Early life and education
Williams was born on 15 September 1922, the son of Sydney James Williams, an engineer. He was educated at Sheen County School and, after World War II, at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he took a first in archaeology and anthropology.[1][2]
Williams served during World War II with the Ist Battalion, King’s African Rifles in East Africa and in the Burma campaign, and was demobilised with the rank of captain.[1][2]
Career
In 1949, he joined the Colonial Office as assistant principal. In 1956, as first secretary, he was posted to New Delhi before he joined the Commonwealth Relations Office in 1958. From 1959 to 1963, he served as deputy high commissioner in Malaya, and then counsellor at New Delhi from 1963 to 1966. That year he was at the Commonwealth Office, and in 1967 was private secretary to the Commonwealth Secretary George Thomson.[1][2][3]
After working in the Diplomatic Service Inspectorate, he was appointed the first high commissioner to newly independent Fiji, a post he held from 1970 to 1974, and then served as minister in Nigeria from 1974 to 1979 while also serving as non-resident ambassador and consul-general for Benin.[4][5] After a brief spell working as assistant under-secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (West and East Africa), he was appointed high commissioner to Kenya in 1979, a post he held until his retirement in 1982.[1][3]
In retirement Williams became chairman of the Commonwealth Institute in 1984, succeeding David Hunt, and in the same year received a fellowship from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.[1]
Personal life and death
Honours
Williams was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1973 New Year Honours,[6] and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1982 Birthday Honours.[7]