John Rankin (diplomat) explained

John Rankin
Honorific-Suffix:CMG
Office1:Governor of the British Virgin Islands
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Charles III
Premier1:Andrew Fahie
Natalio Wheatley
Term Start1:29 January 2021
Term End1:18 January 2024
Predecessor1:Augustus Jaspert
Successor1:Daniel Pruce
Office2:Governor of Bermuda
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Premier2:Michael Dunkley
Edward David Burt
Term Start2:5 December 2016
Term End2:12 December 2020
Predecessor2:Ginny Ferson (acting)
Successor2:Rena Lalgie
Office3:United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
Monarch3:Elizabeth II
Predecessor3:Peter Hayes
Successor3:James Dauris
Term Start3:2011
Term End3:2015
Office4:United Kingdom Consul-General in Boston
Monarch4:Elizabeth II
Predecessor4:George Fergusson
Successor4:Phil Budden
Term Start4:2003
Term End4:2007
Birth Name:John James Rankin
Birth Date:1957 3, df=yes
Birth Place:United Kingdom
Alma Mater:University of Glasgow
McGill University

John James Rankin, (born 12 March 1957) is a British diplomat and a former ambassador to Nepal. He served as the Governor of the British Virgin Islands from January 2021 to January 2024.[1] He was the Governor of Bermuda from December 2016 to December 2020.[2]

Early life and education

Rankin was born on 12 March 1957. He was educated at Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School, a private school in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied Scots law at the University of Glasgow, graduating with a first class honours Bachelor of Laws degree. He later studied international law at McGill University, graduating with a Master of Laws degree.[3]

Career

Legal career

Rankin qualified and practised as a solicitor in Scotland; he was a member of the Law Society of Scotland. He was additionally a lecturer in public law at the University of Aberdeen from 1984 to 1988.

Diplomatic career

Rankin joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1988. Between posts at the FCO, he served at the embassy in Dublin and was the consul-general at Boston. He took up his appointment as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and non-resident High Commissioner to the Maldives in February 2011.[4] In 2015, he was appointed Ambassador to Nepal.[5]

He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2016 New Year Honours.

Governor

Rankin was sworn in as Governor of Bermuda on 5 December 2016.[6] In February 2018, signed into law the Domestic Partnership Act 2018, which effectively reversed the right of gay couples to marry. This made Bermuda the first jurisdiction to legalise and then repeal same-sex marriage rights.[7] The law relating to same-sex marriage in Bermuda could change again, as the Supreme Court stated in June 2018 that repealing same-sex marriage rights was discriminatory and thus contrary to section 12 of the Bermudian Constitution.

In September 2020, it was announced that Rankin would be replacing Gus Jaspert as Governor of the British Virgin Islands in 2021.[8] As such, he was replaced in December 2020 by Rena Lalgie as Governor of Bermuda.

Rankin was sworn in as Governor of the British Virgin Islands on 29 January 2021, after arriving in the territory and observing the mandatory 14-day quarantine due to COVID-19.

Personal life

Rankin was married to Lesley Marshall from 1987 until they divorced in 2019. They have a son and two daughters.[9]

Publications

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rankin bids farewell to BVI: Reflects on challenges & hope for reforms . Loop News . 19 January 2024 . 18 January 2024.
  2. News: Johnston-Barnes. Owain. Rankin named new Governor. 5 December 2016. The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 19 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Governor to the British Virgin Islands: John Rankin . GOV.UK . 29 April 2022 . en.
  4. http://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-british-high-commissioner-to-sri-lanka Change of British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
  5. http://www.gov.uk/government/people/john-rankin John Rankin
  6. News: Bermuda welcomes new Governor. 2 January 2017. The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 5 December 2016.
  7. Web site: Bermuda becomes first jurisdiction in the world to repeal same-sex marriage. Guardian Staff. agencies. 2018-02-08. the Guardian. en. 2018-02-09.
  8. Web site: Governor Jaspert Announces BVI's Next Governor . bvi.gov.vg . Government of the Virgin Islands . 29 April 2022 . 16 September 2020.
  9. Web site: Rankin, John James, (born 12 March 1957), HM Diplomatic Service; Governor, British Virgin Islands, since 2021 . . Oxford University Press . 29 April 2022 . en . 1 December 2021.