Clinton Pelham

Sir Clinton Pelham
British Ambassador to Czechoslovakia
In office
1955–1957
Preceded bySir Derwent Kermode
Succeeded bySir Paul Grey
British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office
1951–1955
Preceded byAlan Trott
Succeeded by Sir Harold Beeley
Personal details
Born20 May 1898
Died17 June 1984 (aged 86)
Children2
OccupationDiplomat

Sir George Clinton Pelham (20 May 1898 – 17 June 1984) was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1951 to 1955 and ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1955 to 1957.

Early life and education

Pelham was born on 20 May 1898, the son of George Pelham. He was educated privately.[1][2]

Career

After serving during World War I from 1915 to 1918, Pelham joined the Foreign Office in 1920[3] after working briefly at the Customs and Excise Department.[4] In 1923, he transferred to the Far Eastern Consular Service as a student interpreter,[5] and in the following year was appointed vice-consul in China.[6] In 1934, he served as commercial secretary at Peking.[1][2][7]

In 1943, Pelham was appointed acting consul-general in Madagascar. He then served at Baghdad as first secretary (commercial) in 1945,[8] promoted to counsellor (commercial) the following year, and counsellor (commercial) at Madrid from 1948 to 1951.[1][2][9]

Pelham then served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1951 to 1955,[10] and Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1955 to 1957.[1][2][9][11]

In retirement Pelham became a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (FRGS), and was a county councillor for West Sussex from 1963 to 1970.[1][2]

Personal life and death

Pelham married Jeanie Adelina Morton in 1930 and they had two daughters.[1][2]

Pelham died on 17 June 1984, aged 86.[1]

Honours

Pelham was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1949 New Year Honours.[12] He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1957 New Year Honours.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Sir Clinton Pelham". The Times. 20 June 1984. p. 12.
  2. ^ 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. 588. ISBN 978-0-7136-3336-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ "No. 32344". The London Gazette. 3 June 1921. p. 4448.
  4. ^ "No. 13560". The Edinburgh Gazette. 6 February 1920. p. 350.
  5. ^ "No. 14222". The Edinburgh Gazette. 13 April 1926. p. 427.
  6. ^ "No. 33272". The London Gazette. 6 May 1927. p. 2953.
  7. ^ "No. 34019". The London Gazette. 30 January 1934. p. 675.
  8. ^ "No. 37309". The London Gazette. 16 October 1945. p. 5071.
  9. ^ a b Colin Mackie (2013). A Directory of British Diplomats [2013]. p. 390.
  10. ^ "No. 39513". The London Gazette. 11 April 1952. p. 2013.
  11. ^ "No. 40557". The London Gazette. 9 August 1955. p. 4559.
  12. ^ "No. 38493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1949. p. 5.
  13. ^ "No. 40960". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1957. p. 22.