Peter Westmacott

Sir Peter Westmacott GCMG LVO
British Ambassador to the United States
In office 2012–2016
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Succeeded by	Sir Kim Darroch
British Ambassador to France
In office 2007–2012
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown; David Cameron
Preceded by	Sir John Holmes
Succeeded by	Sir Peter Ricketts
British Ambassador to Turkey
In office 2002–2006
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Sir David Logan
Succeeded by	Nick Baird
Personal details
Born	Peter John Westmacott 23 December 1950 Edington, Somerset, UK
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Susie, Lady Westmacott
Relations	Rev. Prebendary Ian Westmacott (father); Capt Herbert Westmacott (cousin)
Children	4
Alma mater	New College, Oxford
Occupation	Diplomat
Religion	Church of England

Sir Peter John Westmacott, GCMG LVO (born 23 December 1950) is a senior British diplomat, who was British Ambassador to Turkey, then Ambassador to France (2007 to 2011) and finally Ambassador to the United States from January 2012 to January 2016, succeeding Sir Nigel Sheinwald, a posting announced by the Prime Minister's Office on 24 June 2011.^[1]

Career

GCMG
Collar and Breast Star

Westmacott joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1972, and his first overseas posting was as Second Secretary at 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 to serve as a Counsellor. Later postings included Director for the Americas in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Deputy Under Secretary of State.

From 2002–06, Westmacott was HM Ambassador to Turkey where, in 2003, he dealt with a suicide bomb attack directed at the British Consulate in Istanbul, killing 15 people;^[2] thereafter he was closely involved in negotiations attempting to bring Turkey into the EU.

Formerly HM Ambassador to France since 2007, Westmacott took over as HM Ambassador to the United States in January 2012. As of 2015, Westmacott was paid a salary of between £170,000 and £174,999 by the Foreign Office, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time.^[3]

Personal life

Westmacott was educated at Taunton School before going to New College, Oxford. In 2001, he married, as his second wife, Susan Nemazee.

Westmacott is the son of The Reverend Prebendary Ian Westmacott, by his wife, Rosemary (née Spencer). His cousin, Captain Herbert Westmacott MC, was killed during a gunfight with the PIRA in Belfast in 1980.^[2]

Honours and awards

• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) (2016; KCMG: 2003)^[4]
• Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) - 1993
• Commandeur, Legion of Honour^[5] - 2008

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 2003 and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to diplomacy.^[6]

References

1. "Senior Diplomatic Appointments". Number 10. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
2. "ENVOY EXPERT; TOURISTS IN TERROR BLAST". www.thefreelibrary.com. Daily Mirror. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
3. "Senior officials 'high earners' salaries as at 30 September 2015 - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
4. "Birthday Honours 2016: Diplomatic Service and Overseas List" (PDF). UK Government. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
5. www.ceuropeens.org
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 61608. p. B3. 11 June 2016.

External links

• Debrett's People of Today