Howard Smith (diplomat)
British | |
---|---|
Alma mater | Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge |
Occupation(s) | Intelligence officer, Diplomat |
Espionage activity | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service branch | MI5 |
Service years | 1979–1981 |
Rank | Director General of MI5 |
Sir Howard Frank Trayton Smith
Career
Educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge,[1] Smith worked at Bletchley Park during World War II and later became the British ambassador to Moscow.[2] At college in Cambridge, Smith was a contemporary of Asa Briggs, playing chess with him and recommending Briggs to fellow Cambridge mathematician Gordon Welchman for service in Hut 6.[3]
Smith joined the Foreign Office in 1939.[4] From 1946 to 1950, Smith served in the Foreign Service in Oslo and Washington. In 1953, he was Consul in Caracas; between 1961 and 1963, he was Counsellor of State in Moscow.[4]
Smith served as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1968 to 1971 and later served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union in Moscow from 1976 to 1978.[4]
In 1978 Smith was unexpectedly appointed
Honours
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1966
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1976
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1981
References
- ^ a b Obituary: Sir Howard Smith The Independent, 10 May 1996
- ISBN 0-593-04982-9.
- ^ Jones, Nigel (15 March 2016). "Asa Briggs obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Sir Howard Smith | MI5 - The Security Service". www.mi5.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.