Richard Allen (diplomat)
Sir Richard Allen | |
|---|---|
| British Ambassador to Burma | |
| In office 1956–1962 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Gore-Booth |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Whitteridge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 February 1903 |
| Died | 16 January 1996 (aged 92) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | New College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Sir Richard Hugh Sedley Allen KCMG (3 February 1903 – 16 January 1996) was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to Burma from 1956 to 1962.
Early life and education
Allen was born on 3 February 1903, the son of Sir Hugh Allen GCVO. He was educated at Royal Naval Colleges, Osborne and Dartmouth and New College, Oxford.[1][2][3]
Career
Allen entered the Foreign Office in 1927 after working for two years as an assistant to the governor of Palestine and was sent to Tokyo as third secretary.[4] He then served at Prague, Berne and Bogatá before he returned to the Foreign Office for the duration of the Second World War. From 1945 to 1950, he served as Counsellor at the British Embassy in Poland.[1][2][3][5]
Allen served as Minister to Argentina from 1950 to 1954; Minister to Guatemala as head of the Legation from 1954 to 1956;[6] and Ambassador to Burma from 1956 to 1962.[7] During his posting in Rangoon he was appointed KCMG, the last British Ambassador to Burma to be knighted.[1][2][3][5]
After retiring from the Diplomatic Service, Allen became a lecturer at Walla Walla University, in Washington State, United States and held visiting lectureships at several other US universities.[3]
Personal life and death
Allen married Juliet Thomson in 1945. She died in 1983. They had a son who predeceased him.[1][3]
Allen died on 16 January 1996, aged 92.[3][8]
Publications
- Malaysia: Prospect and Retrospect, 1968.
- A Short Introduction to the History and Politics of Southeast Asia, 1970.
- Imperialism and Nationalism in the Fertile Crescent, 1974.
Honours
Allen was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1953 Coronation Honours,[9] and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1960 New Year Honours.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d Who was who. Vol.10, 1996-2000 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. London : A & C Black. 2001. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7136-5439-4.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b c Colin Mackie (2013). A Directory of British Diplomats [2013]. p. 18.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sir Richard Allen". The Times. 12 February 1996. p. 21.
- ^ "No. 33326". The London Gazette. 4 November 1927. p. 7014.
- ^ a b Office, Great Britain Foreign (1962). The Foreign Office List and Diplomatic and Consular Year Book for ... Harrison and Sons. p. 109.
- ^ "No. 40256". The London Gazette. 17 August 1954. p. 4755.
- ^ "No. 40981". The London Gazette. 22 January 1957. p. 502.
- ^ "Personal Column". The Times. 18 January 1996. p. 20.
- ^ "Page 2945 | Supplement 39863, 26 May 1953 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ "Page 5 | Supplement 41909, 29 December 1959 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2025.