Patrick Shaw (diplomat) explained

Sir Patrick Shaw
Birth Name:Patrick Shaw
Birth Date:18 September 1913
Birth Place:Kew, Victoria Australia
Death Place:Washington, D.C. United States
Occupation:Public servant, diplomat
Children:Karina, Janet
Nationality:Australian
Office:9th Ambassador of Australia to
the United States
Term Start:21 February 1974
Term End:27 December 1975
Predecessor:James Plimsoll
(Ambassador to the United States of America)
Successor:Gordon Upton

Sir Patrick Shaw (18 September 191327 December 1975) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.[1] [2]

Shaw joined the Department of External Affairs in 1939.[3] He worked in the Department's political section until 1941 when he was sent on his first overseas posting as third secretary in Australia's Tokyo legation. Shaw and other legation staff were taken as prisoners of war when war broke out.[4]

In 1973, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam announced Shaw's appointment as Ambassador to the United States.[5] While in the role, Shaw suffered a fatal heart attack. He died on 27 December 1975.[6] Ambassador Shaw's wife, Lady Shaw, was a victim of a street attack in Washington, D.C., for which she received ex gratia remuneration from the United States Government.[7] [8]

Shaw's daughter, Karina Campbell (née Shaw) followed her father in working in the Australian diplomatic service. Karina Campbell joined the then-Department of External Affairs in 1963 and later held a range of senior positions in the Department.

Notes and References

  1. shaw-sir-patrick-11667 . Shaw, Sir Patrick (1913–1975) . 2002 . 16 . David. Lee . 24 October 2022 .
  2. News: Sexist baggage revealed. Alison. Broinowski. Alison Broinowski. 7 December 2013. The Wimmera Mail-Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20160207071426/http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/1957820/sexist-baggage-revealed/. 7 February 2016.
  3. News: Mr Patrick Shaw to India. 2 March 1970. The Canberra Times. 1.
  4. News: Obituary: Sir Patrick Shaw gave 36 years' service. The Canberra Times. ACT. 29 December 1975. 3.
  5. News: Diplomatic reshuffle announced. Gay. Davidson. 27 September 1973. 1. The Canberra Times.
  6. News: Ambassador to US dies. 29 December 1975. 1. The Canberra Times.
  7. https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0014/1075962.pdf#page=16 H.R. 13179: State Department Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1977.
  8. https://www.usagm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Foreign-Relations-Authorization-Act-FY1977.pdf Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1977.