Dominic Asquith Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable Sir
Dominic Asquith
Honorific-Suffix:KCMG
Birth Date:7 February 1957
Office:British High Commissioner to India
Term Start:April 2016
Term End:January 2020
Predecessor:Sir James Bevan
Successor:Sir Philip Barton
Primeminister:Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Office1:British Ambassador to Libya
Term Start1:2011
Term End1:2012
Predecessor1:Sir John Jenkins
Successor1:Michael Aron
Primeminister1:David Cameron
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Office2:British Ambassador to Egypt
Term Start2:2007
Term End2:2011
Predecessor2:Sir Derek Plumbly
Successor2:James Watt
Primeminister2:Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Office3:British Ambassador to Iraq
Term Start3:2006
Term End3:2007
Predecessor3:William Patey
Successor3:Christopher Prentice
Primeminister3:Tony Blair
Monarch3:Elizabeth II
Father:Julian Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith
Mother:Anne Asquith
Relatives:Raymond Asquith, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith (brother)
Sir Michael Palairet (grandfather)
H. H. Asquith (great-grandfather)
Education:Ampleforth College
Children:4

Sir Dominic Anthony Gerard Asquith (born 7 February 1957) is a British career diplomat and former Ambassador to Iraq, Egypt, and Libya. He was First Secretary at the British Embassy in Washington DC. He was most recently the British High Commissioner to the Republic of India.[1]

Background and education

Asquith is the younger son of The 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith and Anne (born Palairet). He is a great-grandson of H. H. Asquith, the former British Prime Minister. Asquith's elder brother Raymond, father Lord Oxford, and maternal grandfather Sir Michael Palairet, all served as British diplomats. Like his father and brother, he was educated at Ampleforth College.

In 1975 he was involved in the Musa Alami project in the West Bank, Palestine, and worked as a researcher at the Institute of Palestine Studies in Beirut.

In 1981 he worked as a freelance journalist in Amman, Jordan and then as the Executive Secretary to the Parliamentary Association for Euro-Arab Co-operation in London, until 1983.

Diplomatic career

Asquith joined HM Diplomatic Service in 1983 as part of the Soviet department and served at Damascus, Muscat, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires and Riyadh before being appointed Deputy Head of Mission in Iraq in 2004, Director of the Iraq Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2004–06 and Ambassador to Iraq 2006–07. He was Ambassador to Egypt 2007–11 and Ambassador to Libya 2011–12.

On 4 December 2009, Asquith gave evidence before Parliament to The Iraq Inquiry.[2]

Asquith survived an assassination attempt in June 2012 when a British convoy was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.[3] In September 2012 Asquith had to extend a routine break from Libya for medical treatment[4] and in January 2013 he was officially replaced by Michael Aron.[5]

Asquith was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2004,[6] and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2012 New Year Honours.[7]

After spending a few years in the private sector, Asquith returned to diplomatic life, taking charge as High Commissioner to India in April 2016.[8] He concluded his four-year stint in India[9] in January 2020.[8]

Outside work

In May 2013 Asquith took an unpaid position leading a trade delegation to Libya organised by the Libyan British Business Council.[10]

In June 2013 Sir Dominic took a paid position as senior consultant with Tatweer Research, a Libyan research and development company, specialising in technology and engineering.[11]

Career overview

Personal life

Asquith was married in 1988 to Louise Cotton, who had worked as a secretary in the British Foreign Office and resigned upon her marriage. Sir Dominic and Lady Asquith have four children:[12] [13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG.
  2. http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/40468/20091204asquith-final.pdf Transcript of Dominic Asquith
  3. News: British envoy's convoy ambushed in Libya, two wounded. Reuters. 11 June 2012. Al-Tommy. Mohammed.
  4. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/acting-uk-head-of-mission-in-libya-announced Michael Aron, formerly Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iraq, will be temporarily replacing Sir Dominic Asquith as Acting Head of Mission in Libya
  5. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majesty-s-ambassador-to-libya Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya
  6. http://www.ampleforth.org.uk/OANews/html/HonoursandAwards.html Honours and Awards
  7. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/honours-list/8985135/New-Year-Honours-2012-full-list-of-recipients.html New Year Honours List 2012: full list
  8. News: Shortest serving UK High Commissioner ever quits after 3 weeks. The Times of India. Canton. Naomi. 3 August 2020. 26 April 2021.
  9. News: UK appoints Philip Barton as High Commissioner to India. The Week. 6 February 2020. 26 April 2021.
  10. http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/media/27740/sir%20dominic%20asquith%20-%20fco.pdf ACOBA Asquith LBBC
  11. http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/media/27882/approval%20letter%20-%20asquith%20-%20tatweer%20%28website%29.pdf ACOBA Asquith Tatweer
  12. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U9803 ASQUITH, Hon. Sir Dominic (Anthony Gerard)
  13. http://www.thepeerage.com/p64556.htm#i645555 The Peerage, entry for Hon Sir Dominic Asquith