Charles Bateman (diplomat)

Sir Charles Bateman
British Ambassador to Mexico
In office
1944–1947
Preceded byPost established
Succeeded bySir Thomas Rapp
British Ambassador to Poland
In office
1950–1952
Preceded byDonald St Clair Gainer
Succeeded bySir Francis Shepherd
Personal details
Born4 January 1892
Died7 November 1986 (aged 94)
Alma materUniversity of London
OccupationCivil servant and Diplomat

Sir Charles Harold Bateman (4 January 1892 – 7 November 1986) was a British civil servant and diplomat who served as British Ambassador to Mexico from 1944 to 1947 and British Ambassador to Poland from 1950 to 1952.

Early life and education

Bateman was born on 4 January 1892, the son of Charles Bateman. He was educated at University of London and Sorbonne University, Paris.[1]

Career

Bateman served in World War I with 2nd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) in Gallipoli and France, and with the Royal Artillery in France and Belgium,[2] and was awarded the Military Cross.[1]

Bateman entered the Diplomatic Service in 1920,[3] and was posted to Chile as third secretary. In 1923, he was appointed second secretary.[4] In 1929, having risen to first secretary,[5] he was transferred to Baghdad in 1932,[6] and there also served as acting counsellor in 1935. In 1937, he served as counsellor at Lisbon, and then during the following year as minister at Cairo, before he returned to the Foreign Office in 1940 where he served as head of the Egyptian Department.[1][7]

In 1941, Bateman was sent to Mexico where he served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the British legation in Mexico City. Diplomatic relations had been severed between the two countries after President Lázaro Cárdenas had expropriated oil reserves and facilities of foreign oil companies in Mexico and refused to pay compensation.[8] After diplomatic relations were restored, ambassadors were exchanged, and Bateman was appointed as the first British Ambassador to Mexico, serving from 1944 to 1947. After serving as assistant under-secretary at the Foreign Office from 1948 to 1950, he was appointed British Ambassador to Poland, serving from 1950 to 1952.[1][7][9]

Personal life and death

Bateman married Bridget Kavanagh in 1940.[1]

Bateman died on 7 November 1986, aged 94.[1]

Honours

Bateman was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1937 New Year Honours,[10] and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1950 Birthday Honours.[11] In 1919, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Who was who 1981-1990 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. London : A. & C. Black. 1991. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7136-3336-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ "No. 29922". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 January 1917. p. 1035.
  3. ^ "No. 31929". The London Gazette. 4 June 1920. p. 6200.
  4. ^ "No. 32836". The London Gazette. 22 June 1923. p. 4346.
  5. ^ "No. 33546". The London Gazette. 25 October 1929. p. 6764.
  6. ^ "No. 34182". The London Gazette. 23 July 1935. p. 4771.
  7. ^ a b Colin Mackie (2013). A Directory of British Diplomats [2013]. p. 39.
  8. ^ "No. 35414". The London Gazette. 9 January 1942. p. 194.
  9. ^ "No. 39006". The London Gazette. 29 August 1950. p. 4383.
  10. ^ "No. 34365". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 February 1937. p. 692.
  11. ^ "No. 38929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1950. p. 2775.
  12. ^ "No. 31092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1919. p. 23.