Antony Acland

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the diplomat. For the army officer, see Antony Guy Acland.

Sir Antony Acland
British Ambassador to the United States
In office
1986–1991
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime Minister
Preceded by
Sir Robin Renwick
Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office
1982–1986
Foreign Sec.
Preceded by
British Ambassador to Spain
In office
1977–1980
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime Minister
Preceded by
British Ambassador to Luxembourg
In office
1975–1977
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime Minister
Preceded by
Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary
In office
1972–1975
Foreign Sec.
  • Sir Alec Douglas-Home
  • James Callaghan
Preceded byJohn Graham
Succeeded byStephen Barrett
Personal details
Born
Anthony Arthur Acland

(1930-03-12)12 March 1930
Died8 September 2021(2021-09-08) (aged 91)
NationalityBritish
Spouses
Clare Anne Verdon
​
​
(m. 1956; died 1984)​
Jennifer McGougan
​
​
(m. 1987)​
Children3, including Simon
Parent
EducationEton College
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
Awards
  • Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter
    (2001)
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
    (1986)
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
    (1991)

Sir Antony Arthur Acland (12 March 1930 – 8 September 2021) was a British diplomat and a

provost of Eton College
.

Early life

Antony Acland was the second son of Bridget Susan (Barnett) and Brigadier

Foreign Office (FO).[2]

Career

After studying at the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(FCO) he was head of the Arabian department 1970–72.

Acland was

Ambassador to Luxembourg 1975–77[3] and to Spain 1977–79. He was Deputy Under-Secretary at the FCO 1979–82, a post which then entailed chairing the Joint Intelligence Committee. In 1982 he was promoted to Permanent Under-Secretary and head of the Diplomatic Service. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982 and Acland came into collision with the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, over the diplomatic response. At one point during a heated discussion he threatened to resign, whereupon Thatcher backed down and said "All right, no more Foreign Office bashing."[4]

Acland was

Provost of Eton College 1991–2000.[5]

Acland was a member of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford, helping to raise funds for the institute's building and library.[6]

Honours

Acland was appointed

Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.[13]

Personal life

In 1956, Acland married Clare Anne Verdon; they had a daughter and two sons, including Simon Acland. Clare died in 1984; in 1987 he married Jennifer McGougan.

He died in September 2021, at the age of 91.[14] His death came one day before that of fellow Knight Companion of the Garter Sir Timothy Colman.[15]

Arms

Coat of arms of Sir Antony Arthur Acland, KG, GCMG, GCVO
Notes
Knight since 1986
Crest
Upon a hand Argent and Sable, a falcon Argent.
Torse
Mantling Sable doubled Argent.
Escutcheon
Chequy Argent and Sable a fess Gules in chief a mullet of five points Argent.
Orders
The Order of the Garter circlet;[16][17][18] Order of St Michael and St George; Royal Victorian Order
Banner
The banner of Sir Antony Acland's arms used as Knight Companion of the Garter depicted at St George's Chapel.

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ "No. 38520". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 January 1949. p. 442.
  2. ^ BDOHP 2001, p. 2.
  3. ^ "No. 46681". The London Gazette. 11 September 1975. p. 11464.
  4. ^ BDOHP 2001, p. 33.
  5. ^ "No. 52592". The London Gazette. 2 July 1991. p. 10098.
  6. ^ "Founding Council". Rothermere American Institute. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
  7. ^ "No. 46777". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1975. p. 4.
  8. ^ "No. 47074". The London Gazette. 23 November 1976. p. 15755.
  9. ^ "No. 49008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1982. p. 4.
  10. ^ "No. 50551". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1986. p. 3.
  11. ^ "No. 52557". The London Gazette. 11 June 1991. p. 8957.
  12. ^ "Court Circular". The Independent. 10 June 1994. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
  13. ^ "No. 56183". The London Gazette. 23 April 2001. p. 4839.
  14. ISSN 0307-1235
    . Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  15. ^ Bishop, Donna-Louise (9 September 2021). "Organisations across Norfolk pay tribute to Sir Timothy Colman". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Anthony Acland's banner of arms image". Heraldic Sculptor. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  17. ^ "Banner image". St George-Windsor. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  18. ^ "Anthony Acland's crest image". Heraldic Sculptor. Retrieved 20 December 2013.

Sources

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary

1972–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

1975–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ambassador to Spain
1977–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
1982–1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ambassador to the United States
1986–1991 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by
Provost of Eton

1991–2000 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antony_Acland&oldid=1276589264"