Martin Buckmaster, 3rd Viscount Buckmaster
Encyclopedia
Martin Stanley Buckmaster, 3rd Viscount Buckmaster, OBE
(11 April 1921 – 8 June 2007) served as a diplomat
from 1946 to 1981. He sat on the crossbenches in the House of Lords
from 1974.
He was the elder son of Owen Buckmaster, a barrister
and Lloyd's
underwriter, and his first wife, Joan Simpson. His grandfather was Stanley Buckmaster, 1st Viscount Buckmaster
, a barrister and Liberal
MP
who served as Solicitor General
from 1913 to 1915 and was created 1st Viscount Buckmaster in 1915 when he became Lord Chancellor
.
He was educated at Stowe School
. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Sussex Regiment
straight from school. He served in the Middle East
and was promoted to captain.
He was demobilised in 1946 and joined the Foreign Office, using his experience of the Middle East to good effect. He was a political officer in Abu Dhabi
from 1955 to 1958, and then First Secretary at the British embassy in Libya
until 1963. After serving in Bahrain
, he moved to Kampala
to become First Secretary and British High Commissioner
in Uganda
from 1969 to 1971. He later served in Beirut
and Yemen
, retiring in 1981. He was appointed OBE in 1979.
He became Viscount Buckmaster
on his father's death in 1974, his father having inherited the title in 1934. He took a seat on the crossbenches in the House of Lords
, speaking mainly on matters relating to Middle East. He was vice-chairman of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding.
A committed Christian, he also spoke on issues of public morality. He was a member of the Conservative Family Campaign, and a patron of the Christian Broadcasting Council.
He did not marry. He was succeeded to the viscountcy by his nephew, Adrian Buckmaster
, son of his younger brother, Hon. Colin John Buckmaster.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(11 April 1921 – 8 June 2007) served as a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
from 1946 to 1981. He sat on the crossbenches in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
from 1974.
He was the elder son of Owen Buckmaster, a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and Lloyd's
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
underwriter, and his first wife, Joan Simpson. His grandfather was Stanley Buckmaster, 1st Viscount Buckmaster
Stanley Buckmaster, 1st Viscount Buckmaster
Stanley Owen Buckmaster, 1st Viscount Buckmaster, GCVO, PC, KC was a British lawyer and Liberal politician. He was Lord Chancellor under H. H...
, a barrister and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
who served as Solicitor General
Solicitor General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law...
from 1913 to 1915 and was created 1st Viscount Buckmaster in 1915 when he became Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
.
He was educated at Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Sussex Regiment
Royal Sussex Regiment
The Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
straight from school. He served in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and was promoted to captain.
He was demobilised in 1946 and joined the Foreign Office, using his experience of the Middle East to good effect. He was a political officer in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
from 1955 to 1958, and then First Secretary at the British embassy in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
until 1963. After serving in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, he moved to Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
to become First Secretary and British High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
from 1969 to 1971. He later served in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, retiring in 1981. He was appointed OBE in 1979.
He became Viscount Buckmaster
Viscount Buckmaster
Viscount Buckmaster, of Cheddington in the County of Buckingham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1933 for the lawyer and Liberal politician and former Lord Chancellor, Stanley Buckmaster, 1st Baron Buckmaster...
on his father's death in 1974, his father having inherited the title in 1934. He took a seat on the crossbenches in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, speaking mainly on matters relating to Middle East. He was vice-chairman of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding.
A committed Christian, he also spoke on issues of public morality. He was a member of the Conservative Family Campaign, and a patron of the Christian Broadcasting Council.
He did not marry. He was succeeded to the viscountcy by his nephew, Adrian Buckmaster
Adrian Buckmaster, 4th Viscount Buckmaster
Adrian Charles Buckmaster, 4th Viscount Buckmaster was born on 2 February 1949. He is the son of Hon. Colin John Buckmaster and May Gibbon.-Education:Adrian Charles Buckmaster was educated at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, England...
, son of his younger brother, Hon. Colin John Buckmaster.