Peter Martin Anker (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Peter Martin Anker was a Norwegian diplomat. He worked for the League of Nations
, Red Cross and United Nations
before, during and after the Second World War. He was then an ambassador in different European, Asian and African countries from 1951 to 1973. He was stationed in six different countries, but with side responsibilities for other countries, he was an ambassador in fifteen different countries during his career (with Austria
counted twice).
, grandson of Herman Anker, nephew of Katti Anker Møller
(and her husband Kai Møller) and Ella Anker
, grandnephew of Nils Anker
, Christian August Anker and Dikka Møller, first cousin of Øyvind Anker
, Synnøve Anker Aurdal and Tove Mohr, and uncle of Peter Martin Anker. In 1931 he married Harriet Celine Wedel Jarlsberg, a daughter of Peder Anker Wedel Jarlsberg and granddaughter of Einar Westye Egeberg
.
in 1927. He was an attaché at the Norwegian legation in Paris
before returning to Norway as a secretary in 1929. He worked for the League of Nations
before World War II
, being hired as a secretary in 1931. He was a secretary in the observatory commission in Alexandrette
from 1936 to 1937, the later Hatay State.
During the war he worked out of Geneva
for Norwegians imprisoned in Germany. He also represented Norway in the International Red Cross from 1942 to 1946. He worked in the United Nations
from 1946 to 1948, among others as a secretary for the UN scrutiny commission in Samoa
in 1947. He was then a deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1948 to 1951, and also an advisor to the Norwegian United Nations delegation. He was the Norwegian ambassador to Switzerland
(and Austria
) from 1951 to 1955, and in 1955 he was appointed as ambassador to West Germany
. The position also covered Czechoslovakia
and Hungary
. In 1958 he became ambassador in Austria, a position which previously had been covered by the ambassador to Switzerland. He became ambassador to Greece
in 1960 before succeeding Ivar Lunde
as ambassador to Turkey
in 1962. The position also covered Iraq
, and from 1965 Kuwait
. From 1966 to 1973 he was the ambassador to Egypt
/the United Arab Republic
. The position also covered Sudan
and Ethiopia
from 1967, Lebanon
from 1968 and Jordan
from 1969.
He issued the books Le Système des Mandats in 1945 and Frihetens gisler. Hjelpearbeidet for de norske fangene 1940–45 in 1971. He was decorated as a Knight of the Order of St. Olav (1952) and the Legion of Honour, and received the Grand Cross of the Order of George II, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Austrian Order of Merit. He died in 1977 and was buried at Vestre gravlund
.
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, Red Cross and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
before, during and after the Second World War. He was then an ambassador in different European, Asian and African countries from 1951 to 1973. He was stationed in six different countries, but with side responsibilities for other countries, he was an ambassador in fifteen different countries during his career (with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
counted twice).
Personal life
He was a son of physician Peter Martin Anker (1872–1903) and Marie Reimers (1871–1958). He was a great-grandson of Peter Martin AnkerPeter Martin Anker (politician)
Peter Martin Anker was a Norwegian politician.He was a son of wholesaler Niels Anker . He was also a third cousin of Karen Anker, Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg's wife. Together with Thrine Gløersen he had the children Nils Anker, Herman Anker, Christian August Anker and Dikka Møller...
, grandson of Herman Anker, nephew of Katti Anker Møller
Katti Anker Møller
Katti Anker Møller was a Norwegian feminist, children's rights advocate, and a pioneer of reproductive rights. She is known to posterity as the "advocate of mothers."...
(and her husband Kai Møller) and Ella Anker
Ella Anker
Eli Birgit "Ella" Anker was a Norwegian magazine journalist, newspaper correspondent, playwright and pamphleteer.-Personal life:...
, grandnephew of Nils Anker
Nils Anker
Nils Anker was a Norwegian politician.He was a son of politician Peter Martin Anker. He was a brother of Herman Anker, Christian August Anker and Dikka Møller, uncle of Katti Anker Møller, Ella Anker and Johan Anker and granduncle of Øyvind Anker, Synnøve Anker Aurdal, Peter Martin Anker and Tove...
, Christian August Anker and Dikka Møller, first cousin of Øyvind Anker
Øyvind Anker
-Personal life:He was born in Frankfurt am Main as a son of engineer Nils Botvid Anker and artist and pianist Gudrun Nilssen . He grew up in Vestre Aker and Lillehammer. He was a brother of Synnøve Anker Aurdal, and through her a brother-in-law of Ludvig Eikaas. Through another sister Ella he was...
, Synnøve Anker Aurdal and Tove Mohr, and uncle of Peter Martin Anker. In 1931 he married Harriet Celine Wedel Jarlsberg, a daughter of Peder Anker Wedel Jarlsberg and granddaughter of Einar Westye Egeberg
Einar Westye Egeberg, Sr.
Einar Westye Egeberg, Sr. was a Norwegian businessperson and politician for the Conservative Party.-Personal life:He was born in Kristiania as a son of Peder Cappelen Egeberg and Hanna Wilhelmine Scheel...
.
Career
He finished secondary education in 1921, took the law degree in 1926, and was hired in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign AffairsNorwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
in 1927. He was an attaché at the Norwegian legation in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before returning to Norway as a secretary in 1929. He worked for the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, being hired as a secretary in 1931. He was a secretary in the observatory commission in Alexandrette
Iskenderun
İskenderun is a city and urban district in the province of Hatay on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The current mayor is Yusuf Hamit Civelek .-Names:...
from 1936 to 1937, the later Hatay State.
During the war he worked out of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
for Norwegians imprisoned in Germany. He also represented Norway in the International Red Cross from 1942 to 1946. He worked in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1946 to 1948, among others as a secretary for the UN scrutiny commission in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
in 1947. He was then a deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1948 to 1951, and also an advisor to the Norwegian United Nations delegation. He was the Norwegian ambassador to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) from 1951 to 1955, and in 1955 he was appointed as ambassador to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. The position also covered Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. In 1958 he became ambassador in Austria, a position which previously had been covered by the ambassador to Switzerland. He became ambassador to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1960 before succeeding Ivar Lunde
Ivar Lunde
Ivar Lunde was a Norwegian diplomat.He was born in Pavlovsk, but took the examen artium in 1927 and the cand.jur. degree in 1932. He started working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1933, and was stationed in Paris, Moscow, Teheran, Ankara and Lisbon...
as ambassador to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in 1962. The position also covered Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and from 1965 Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. From 1966 to 1973 he was the ambassador to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
/the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
. The position also covered Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
from 1967, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
from 1968 and Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
from 1969.
He issued the books Le Système des Mandats in 1945 and Frihetens gisler. Hjelpearbeidet for de norske fangene 1940–45 in 1971. He was decorated as a Knight of the Order of St. Olav (1952) and the Legion of Honour, and received the Grand Cross of the Order of George II, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Austrian Order of Merit. He died in 1977 and was buried at Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund is a cemetery in the Frogner borough of Oslo, Norway, located next to the Borgen metro station. At , it is the largest cemetery in Norway...
.