| David McNicol | |
| Birth Name: | David Williamson McNicol |
| Birth Date: | 20 June 1913 |
| Birth Place: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Death Place: | Canberra, ACT, Australia |
| Occupation: | Public servant, diplomat |
| Education: | Carey Baptist Grammar School King's College |
| Alma Mater: | University of Adelaide (BA) |
David Williamson McNicol (20 June 191318 September 2001) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.
McNicol was born on 20 June 1913 in Adelaide.[1] He was educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School and King's College.[1] He graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the 1930s.[1]
During World War II, McNicol served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a pilot.[2]
McNicol joined the Commonwealth Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1946.[2]
McNicol was a member of an Australian delegation responsible for negotiating the Manila Treaty in September 1954.[3] In December 1954, McNicol's appointment as Minister to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia was announced.[4] In January 1955 the Australian Government announced McNicol's residence for the post would be at the new Australian Legation in Cambodia, to be opened in February that year.[5] [6]
From 1957 to 1960 McNicol was High Commissioner to Singapore, at the time Lee Kuan Yew was moving the country towards independence.[1]
He was High Commissioner to Pakistan from 1962 to 1965[7] His Pakistan appointment was announced by then Minister for External Affairs Garfield Barwick in July 1962.[8]
In June 1968 then Minister for External Affairs Paul Hasluck announced McNicol's appointment as Ambassador to Thailand.[9] At the same time, he was also appointed Australia's council representative to Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO).[10]
In December 1972, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam appointed McNicol Deputy High Commissioner in London.[11]
In the 1966 New Year Honours, McNicol was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) whilst High Commissioner in Wellington, New Zealand.
McNicol retired on 20 June 1978.[1]
He died on 18 September 2001 in Canberra.[1]