Martin Le Quesne

Sir Martin Le Quesne

KCMG (10 June 1917 – 3 April 2004) was a British diplomat, ambassador to Mali and Algeria

Biography

Charles Martin Le Quesne, son of

at the FCO 1971–74, with responsibility for Africa and the Middle East.

He became the senior official adviser on Rhodesia – a problem then poisoning Britain's relations with the black African states. He devoted his formidable intellectual energy to finding an honourable solution, but to no avail. The fruit was not yet ripe and it was only in 1979, after Le Quesne's retirement, that Lord Carrington brought off with great skill and courage the hitherto elusive settlement.
— The Telegraph, 10 April 2004

Le Quesne was

Murtala Mohammed on 13 February 1976. Dimka then visited Le Quesne and asked him to relay a message to General Gowon in London. Le Quesne refused, but the visit had compromised his position and he was expelled by Mohammed's successor, Olusegun Obasanjo.^[4]^[5]

Le Quesne was then within a year of his statutory retirement age, so he retired to

States of Jersey

1978–90.

Le Quesne was appointed

Queen's Birthday Honours of 1974.^[7]

References

LE QUESNE, Sir (Charles) Martin, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012
Sir Martin Le Quesne (obituary), The Telegraph, London, 10 April 2004
Sir Martin Le Quesne (obituary), The Times, London, 28 April 2004, page 27

^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 28 March 1941
^ The London Gazette, 21 November 1961
^ The London Gazette, 13 August 1968
^ Siollun, Max, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976), Algora Publishing, 2009, pp199–200
^ Britain withdraws envoy at request of Nigeria, The Times, London, 5 March 1976, page 8
^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1963
^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 15 June 1974

External links

Portraits of Sir (Charles) Martin Le Quesne (1917-2004), Soldier; Diplomat at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Adam Watson	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Bamako 1961–1964	Succeeded by John Waterfield
Preceded by No representation	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Algiers 1968–1971	Succeeded by Ronald Burroughs
Preceded by Sir Cyril Pickard	High Commissioner to Nigeria 1974–1976	Succeeded by Sir Sam Falle

[1] Supplement to the London Gazette, 28 March 1941

[2] The London Gazette, 21 November 1961

[3] The London Gazette, 13 August 1968

[4] Siollun, Max, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976), Algora Publishing, 2009, pp199–200

[5] Britain withdraws envoy at request of Nigeria, The Times, London, 5 March 1976, page 8

[6] Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1963

[7] Supplement to the London Gazette, 15 June 1974

[4]

[5]

[7]