Ivor Vincent

Ivor Vincent
7th United Kingdom Ambassador to Nicaragua
In office
1970–1973
Preceded by George Warr
Succeeded by David Duncan
Personal details
Born Ivor Francis Sutherland Vincent
14 October 1916
United Kingdom
Died 5 May 1994
London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality British
Spouse(s) Patricia Vincent
Children
  • Frances (deceased)
  • Katie
  • Nicola
  • Sarah
Education Radley College
Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford
Occupation Diplomat

Ivor Francis Sutherland Vincent CMG MBE (14 October 1912 – 5 May 1994) was a British diplomat and co-founder of the Andean Project. His most notable diplomatic post was as Her Majesty's Ambassador to Nicaragua from 1970 to 1973, succeeded by David Duncan in 1974.

Early career

Ivor Vincent was born in October 1916. He was educated at Radley College, a public school in Oxfordshire, and then further educated at Christ Church, Oxford. Upon graduating, Vincent joined Her Majesty's Civil Service on the Board of Trade in 1940.[1]

In 1941, Vincent joined the Garhwal rifles, where he served in India and Burma. He was later appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his military service.[2] Vincent then went on, with civil and military experience under his belt, to become Second Secretary in the Foreign Office.

Vincent's first foreign posting in the Diplomatic Service was in the British embassy at Buenos Aires, capital city of Argentina. He also had positions in the British delegation to the Conference on Disarmament, in Geneva. Vincent was awarded the Order of St Michael and St George at the 1966 Birthday Honours.

Major postings

Vincent's two major postings came in the form of British Ambassador to Nicaragua and Consul-General at Melbourne.[3] Vincent 'made the best' of the political situation in Nicaragua, which included maintaining relations with Anastasio Somoza García, Nicaragua's former authoritarian dictator.

Despite being less satisfied with his Australian posting in Melbourne, Vincent grew found of Australian culture.

Later years and death

After his retirement from the Diplomatic Service in 1976, Vincent became director of the Fairbridge Society, a position he held for five years.

Although his latter years were dogged by ill-health, Vincent managed to support his wife Patricia with the Andean Project, a charity to 'advance education and to promote any other purpose which is charitable by English law for the benefit of the people of the Andes mountains', in Chile.[4] He died on 5 May 1994, aged 77.

References

  1. "The Radleian 1994".
  2. Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  3. "British Diplomats Directory".
  4. "St. Mary The Boltons - Patricia Vincent Obituary" (PDF).
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