Peter Westmacott Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Sir
Peter Westmacott
Office:British Ambassador to the United States
Term Start:28 January 2012
Term End:28 January 2016
Predecessor:Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Successor:Sir Kim Darroch
Primeminister:David Cameron
Office1:British Ambassador to France
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Term Start1:2007
Term End1:2012
Predecessor1:Sir John Holmes
Successor1:Sir Peter Ricketts
Primeminister1:Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Office2:British Ambassador to Turkey
Term Start2:2002
Term End2:2006
Predecessor2:Sir David Logan
Successor2:Nick Baird
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Primeminister2:Tony Blair
Birth Date:1950 12, df=y
Birth Place:Edington, Somerset, England
Birthname:Peter John Westmacott
Nationality:British
Relations:Herbert Westmacott (cousin)
Children:3
Education:Taunton School
Alma Mater:New College, Oxford
Occupation:Diplomat

Sir Peter John Westmacott (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

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 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 to 2006, Westmacott was HM Ambassador to Turkey.[2]

Formerly HM Ambassador to France since 2007, Westmacott took over as HM Ambassador to the United States in January 2012. In 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 1972, Westmacott married Angela Lugg, with whom he had two sons and a daughter. In 2001, he married an American, Susan Nemazee.[4]

Westmacott's father was Ian Westmacott, a reverend, and his mother was named Rosemary (née Watney).[4] His cousin, Captain Herbert Westmacott MC, was killed during a gunfight with the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Belfast in 1980.[5]

Honours and awards

In March 1993 Westmacott was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order. He was later appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2000 New Year Honours before being promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 2003 Birthday Honours and Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to diplomacy.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senior Diplomatic Appointments. 24 June 2011. Number 10. 25 June 2011.
  2. Web site: Peter Westmacott . 21 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Senior officials 'high earners' salaries as at 30 September 2015 – Government of the United Kingdom. 17 December 2015. Government of the United Kingdom. 11 March 2016.
  4. Book: Hume . Lucy . 2017 . People of Today . . 9780992934873.
  5. Web site: ENVOY EXPERT; TOURISTS IN TERROR BLAST. 29 August 2006. Daily Mirror. 19 March 2016.
  6. Web site: Sir Peter Westmacott. ceuropeens.org.