Peter Westmacott
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter John Westmacott, KCMG, LVO (born December 1950) is a senior British
diplomat
, currently serving as HM Ambassador to the French Republic.
On 24 June 2011, the Prime Minister's Office
announced that Sir Peter will replace Sir Nigel Sheinwald
as HM Ambassador to the United States with effect from January 2012.
in 1972, and his first overseas posting was as Second Secretary in Tehran
, Iran
, in 1974. In 1978, he was sent to the European Commission
in Brussels
, and from 1980 to 1984 he was in Paris
. After a period in London
he was in Ankara as Head of Chancery from 1987.
In 1990 he was Deputy Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales
, and in 1993 was sent to Washington
as a Counsellor. Later postings included Director for the Americas in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
, and Deputy Under Secretary of State
.
From 2002-6, Sir Peter served as HM Ambassador to Turkey where he had to deal with a suicide bomb attack on the British Consulate in Istanbul in 2003, which killed 15 people, and was closely involved in the decision to begin accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU in 2005. He has been HM Ambassador to the French Republic since March 2007; and he shall take over as HM Ambassador to the United States, effective January 2012.
and New College, Oxford
, and is married to Susie Nemazee. Sir Peter received the LVO in 1993, the CMG in 2000 and was advanced to knighthood as a KCMG in 2003.
Sir Peter Westmacott's cousin was Captain Herbert Westmacott
MC
who was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
in 1979.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, currently serving as HM Ambassador to the French Republic.
On 24 June 2011, the Prime Minister's Office
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
announced that Sir Peter will replace Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Nigel Sheinwald
Sir Nigel Elton Sheinwald GCMG is a senior British diplomat, currently HM Ambassador to the United States of America, appointed in October 2007....
as HM Ambassador to the United States with effect from January 2012.
Career
Sir Peter joined the Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
in 1972, and his first overseas posting was as Second Secretary in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, in 1974. In 1978, he was sent to the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and from 1980 to 1984 he was 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...
. After a period in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
he was in Ankara as Head of Chancery from 1987.
In 1990 he was Deputy Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, and in 1993 was sent to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as a Counsellor. Later postings included Director for the Americas in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, and Deputy Under Secretary of State
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
.
From 2002-6, Sir Peter served as HM Ambassador to Turkey where he had to deal with a suicide bomb attack on the British Consulate in Istanbul in 2003, which killed 15 people, and was closely involved in the decision to begin accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU in 2005. He has been HM Ambassador to the French Republic since March 2007; and he shall take over as HM Ambassador to the United States, effective January 2012.
Personal life
Sir Peter was educated at Taunton SchoolTaunton School
Taunton School is a co-educational independent school in the county town of Taunton in Somerset in South West England. It serves boarding and day-school pupils from the ages of 13 to 18....
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, and is married to Susie Nemazee. Sir Peter received the LVO in 1993, the CMG in 2000 and was advanced to knighthood as a KCMG in 2003.
Sir Peter Westmacott's cousin was Captain Herbert Westmacott
Herbert Westmacott
Captain Herbert Richard Westmacott MC was a Special Air Service officer who became the first person to be awarded a posthumous Military Cross...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
who was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
in 1979.